In our June update for the National Collaborative Working Groups, we’re excited to announce this month’s theme is “Education and Employability”, which focuses on providing educational insights and valuable information about the opportunities available in the construction industry.
For this month initiative, we take a look at the collaborative efforts being employed by our contractors from conducting mock interviews and providing feedback to addressing topics such as the skills gap and generating strategies to equip job coaches with relevant information to support their clients.
Jack Neath, Social Value Advisor, had this to say about July’s ‘Education and Employability’ efforts that took place, “Our collaborative working groups are demonstrating an exceptional commitment to addressing the skills gap in construction.
From providing mock interviews and career guidance to educating the next generation on roles within our sector. These initiatives are crucial in showcasing the diverse and rewarding opportunities within our industry.”
North East & Yorkshire
Yorkshire – Goals Soccer Centre, Leeds, Redcote Ln, Leeds LS4 2AW
24th June 2024
Bowmer + Kirkland Limited
Overbury
GMI Construction Group Plc
https://www.streetleague.co.uk/
The North East & Yorkshire Collaborative Working Groups – Bowmer + Kirkland Limited, Overbury and GMI Construction Group Plc – recently partnered with Street League.
Leah Howard (Social Value Coordinator, Overbury) spearheaded a mock job interview initiative, coordinating with Street League and ensuring all team members were on board (Brendan Tannam, Responsible Business Partner – GMI and Emmet Cleaver, Social Value Coordinator – Bowmer + Kirkland).
Over a 1 hour and 15-minute session, Leah, Brendan and Emmet conducted mock interviews with 10 Street League service users, providing each with a dedicated 15-20 minute session. They offered written feedback and verbal guidance on interview skills and CVs, aiming to equip these young individuals with the confidence and tools to succeed in their job search. Resources like sample questions and feedback sheets were shared within the group, ensuring consistency and effectiveness.
“Street League uses the power of sport to tackle poverty and give young people the opportunities they need to succeed in life and the workplace. From school to the world of work, we support young people aged 14-30, living in the UK’s most disadvantaged communities. Staff help them overcome their practical and personal barriers to employment.”
Harry Doman, Operations Manager.
Social value measures achieved:
4 hours of delivery (1.20hrs per facilitator)
Midlands
Birmingham – Birmingham Childrens Hospital Birmingham B4 6NH.
19th June 2024
NG Bailey
Marcon Construction
VHE Construction
Burmor Construction
GRAHAM Construction
The Midlands Collaborative Working Groups comprising of NG Bailey, Marcon Construction, VHE Construction, Burmor Construction and GRAHAM Construction provided a collaborative workshop and site tour for 18 DWP job coaches from Birmingham and Solihull Job Centre Plus.
The event aimed to address the construction industry’s skills gap by providing job coaches with in-depth knowledge of the sector. Participants gained valuable insights into the diverse range of career paths available, dispelling the misconception that construction is solely comprised of manual labour roles.
The workshop also covered effective interviews and candidate selection strategies. Through collaborative presentations, the groups showcased the numerous employability opportunities within construction, equipping job coaches to better support their clients.
“Thank you so much for hosting our visit last week. The event was really well received by our Work Coaches who will take the information and share it within their Jobcentre sites.
Having contractors travel such long distances to explain the work that they do and how they fit within the build was particularly impressive, and those colleagues present appreciated this. It was a good overview, and being able to go out on site and have Colin describe the build in such simple terms which was easy to understand, really engaged the group.
In conclusion, the event was well thought out, very well received and ran for just the right amount of time. Thank you again for all the work that went in to organising, and not forgetting the lovely refreshments!”
Wendy Anderson, Offender & Prison Work Coach Leader
Social value measures achieved:
18 people JCP in attendance x 3 hours (54 Hours)
5 CWG presenters prep time 1 hour each (5 hours)
5 CWG + 1 Site Staff Support of 3 hours event (18 Hours)
Total delivery Time – 77 hours
London and South
Camden
07th July 2024
McLaren Construction
Thomas Sinden
McLaren Construction and Thomas Sinden teamed up to deliver a work experience week for 15-17 year olds, aiming to put to bed any misconceptions the younger generation had about the industry.
The work experience included a dedicated session where members of our collaborative working group shared their career journeys and insights into their respective companies.
Participants gained a deeper understanding of the diverse roles within the sector, highlighting opportunities beyond traditional site-based positions. A focus on sustainability and environmental impact was incorporated into the programme, with one of the talks including a higher or lower game to educate the students on carbon emission from everyday items.
Finally, the day concluded with a practical engineering challenge, where students worked together to construct the tallest and strongest tower. The activity encouraged teamwork and problem-solving skills, providing a hands-on experience of the engineering principles involved in construction.
“Amazing. The activity was really fun and learning about different careers was interesting”
Student from group
Social value measures achieved:
Total delivery Time – 14 hours
