In July, our collaborative working groups focused on reaching out to some of the most vulnerable and marginalised individuals. This month’s theme centred on Hard To Reach Groups, aiming to provide support and opportunities for those who are often overlooked.
This month’s efforts have been one of the most diverse and extensive to date. From assisting unemployed individuals and hosting a construction careers session to supporting veterans and ex-offenders, and even volunteering to address child bed poverty. The groups worked tirelessly to create meaningful pathways to employment, social inclusion, and made a significant impact on various vulnerable communities.
Jack Neath, Social Value Advisor, had this to say about July’s, ‘Hard To Reach Groups” effort, “This has been one of the most wide-reaching initiatives our CWG’s have taken on. Our groups have demonstrated their commitment to diversity and inclusivity by supporting a wide range of vulnerable individuals, from unemployed individuals to veterans, ex-offenders and families in need. This month exemplifies the importance of social value in our industry and the impact these initiatives have.”
North West
Stockport
17th July 2024
In an effort to expand their reach and provide opportunities for individuals with disabilities or health-related issues, The North West Collaborative Working Group (CWG), Bethell Construction Limited, ISG and Vinci, partnered with Pure Innovations, a leading support organisation in Greater Manchester. To facilitate informal interactions, they hosted a coffee morning at one of their local coffee shops.
At the event, our contractors established dedicated areas where attendees could engage in casual conversations about construction, available roles and potential career paths within the industry. The informal setting was designed to encourage participants to approach our representatives at their own pace and comfort level.
ISG took the lead in coordinating with Pure Innovations to secure the venue, set the date and time, and outline the day’s agenda. Additionally, Vinci, Bethell Construction, and ISG ensured that their organisations were adequately represented by providing additional resources for attendees to speak with.
All participating contractors provided promotional materials for attendees to take away. Furthermore, each contractor was responsible for following up on any work placements and internships generated during the event.
“What a great morning, loads of really good conversations and potential opportunities for the clients that attended. Really positive feedback from all, thanks for making this a very positive and productive event.”
Kate
Social value measures achieved:
- 18 staff hours (9 x staff in total @ 2hrs each)
- Offer of work placements / Internships:
- ISG- secured a 2 week placement
- Vinci- Offered 2 days work placement/ Potential supported internship for 3 candidates
- Bethell- reaching out to Stockport college to support a candidate/ exploring supported apprenticeships through Stockport Council and Pure Innovations for local people with an EHCP.
London and South England
HMP High Down (Sutton Lane, Sutton, Surrey)
08th August 2024
With reoffending rates within the prison system fluctuating between 23% and 32%, there is a pressing need to provide ex-offenders with meaningful opportunities. To address this, our London and South CWG partnered with Elite Project Services (EPS), an organisation that delivers construction skills training in prisons.
The group conducted a two-hour informative session at HMP High Down, a Category C prison, to introduce inmates to construction careers, roles, and pathways into the industry. Approximately 40 inmates attended the session, which was well-received and generated a lively discussion.
During the session, they engaged with inmates to discuss their experiences and aspirations. They also provided feedback on the prison’s construction training program, identifying potential areas for improvement, such as expanding the use of trades workstations and manufacturing pods. This would not only enhance inmate training but also generate additional income for the prison.
By providing ex-offenders with practical skills and industry insights, the London and South CWG aimed to reduce recidivism and create a more positive future for those leaving prison. The initiative has the potential to make a significant impact, moreover, a follow up conversation has been organised with EPS and HMP High Down for October to further explore their training programme and identify ways they can work together.
“It doesn’t get more exciting in my role than making links directly to employers who are willing to give a prisoner a chance to change their life.”
Richard Jackman (Business and Community Engagement Manager)
Social value measures achieved:
- Total Staff hours 125 hours
East and West Midlands
SPARK, Walsall
30th July 2024
Spark
In collaboration with Walsall Council, Our East and West Midlands CWG, Henry Boot Construction, Seddon Construction and Key Construction identified a cohort of vulnerable young people (aged 16-25) who were either care-leavers, care-providers, or jobseekers. To provide these individuals with opportunities and inspiration, they hosted an event called ‘PPE and Pizza’ at Henry Boot Construction’s sister company HBD’s Spark site in Walsall.
During the event, the young people participated in a site tour and a careers session in construction. The session was designed to be both informative and inspiring, highlighting the potential for growth and development within the industry.
After the session, the attendees were treated to pizza, received certificates and vouchers as the group wanted to recognise these individuals as valuable contributors to their town’s bright future.
The session was a collaborative effort, with Henry Boot Construction organising the site visit, Seddon Construction supporting with the project plan and careers presentation, Key Construction oversaw the acknowledgment for the young people and liaised with Procure Partnerships and Thomas Sinden provided additional guidance and funding to support the program.
“Walsall Council, through its Walsall Works employability programme, gave 24 young people from diverse backgrounds a chance to meet with the team behind the SPARK development. The young people had the advantage of understanding the background of the site and the remediation work currently being undertaken by JF Hunt and their suppliers.
A tour of the site enabled the young people to get a sense of the size, scale and complexity of this multi-million pound development and how this will transform into a state of the art employment site with potential to create 1000 jobs in years to come. It was inspiring to see the genuine interest from the group about the types of careers that could be offered to local people from a site such as SPARK and the developer HBD were able to showcase their track record of successfully transforming unloved sites into thriving commercial employment hubs.”
Social value measures achieved:
- 12 learners engaged including care-leavers and those who are NEET.
- 12 hours volunteered.
- £900 charitable contributions for pizzas and shopping vouchers for attendees.
North East
Leeds
July 2024
Cheetham Hill Construction Ltd
Zarach, a Leeds-based not-for-profit organisation, addresses child bed poverty by providing beds to families in need. Our North East CWG recognised these children as a ‘hard to reach group’ and agreed to support Zarach’s efforts.
Two volunteers from our CWG, Helen Whitehead and Tom Herbert from VINCI, participated in a bed delivery initiative organised by Zarach. On the delivery day, they collected twelve new beds from the Zarach warehouse and personally delivered them to six families in need. These families had been identified by Zarach as facing significant challenges due to poverty, including difficulties with their children’s education.
The initiative was a collaborative effort, with VINCI playing a key role in organising and executing the bed deliveries. The beds were provided through charitable funds and delivered directly to the families’ homes. In addition to this, the North East CWG is currently discussing future opportunities to assist the organisation in its mission to address child bed poverty and improve the lives of children in need.
Social value measures achieved:
- 14 staff hours
