The month of September saw our Social Value Framework partners focus on SEND for the fifth of twelve ‘key monthly themes’ as part of Procure Partnerships collaborative working groups.
Contractors worked together to plan and deliver interactive sessions with individuals who have special educational needs and disabilities. Activities and outcomes from; capturing the imagination of young persons to look into the world of construction. As well as tangible outcomes of targeted employment and success stories; whereby companies are making a real difference to the lives of individuals by offering opportunities and experiences via inclusive working practices.
For more information around supporting employees, there are materials available Support for employers | Special Educational Needs and Disability (excellencegateway.org.uk) Including interactive tool kits for apprentices and discussions around how this can be captured through social value measures.
East & West Midlands: Morgan Sindall & Kier
SENDAT Angel Hill College is a special academy school in Ipswich. They support a range of needs from ages 5-25. Their expertise lies in Moderate Learning Difficulties, Autistic Spectrum Disorder, Social Emotional & Mental Health and Behavioural needs.
Wooden School Activity: Morgan Sindall colleagues Andy, Steve and Helen visited the students in school to undertake our Wooden School Activity. This is a 3m x 3m flat pack wooden school build project which the students were tasked with building. In total, 12 students participated over the two sessions delivered.
After introductions and an initial health & safety talk, the students got suited up in their PPE ready to start construction! Both groups of students showed a great deal of teamwork to successfully complete the building within the allocated timescales, all whilst learning about the various stages of construction and the vast number of jobs/roles available in the industry. With tips from staff including righty-tighty, lefty-loosey!
Keyham Lodge SEN School in Leicester: On his 2nd visit to Keyham Lodge in recent months, Carl York attended a day focused on careers in construction in partnership with local charity Leicestershire Cares on behalf of Kier Construction. Initially, Carl delivered a talk on potential careers in construction and routes into the industry, before conducting a skills workshop and interview technique session. During the day Carl engaged with 12 different students, all of whom are interested in careers in the industry.
Fiona, Keyham Lodge, Testimonial: “Thank you so much for attending the session at Keyham Lodge last Thursday. We really appreciate your time and support with this project, hopefully the students who did engage will have gained some valuable insights into the world of construction”
Pictures include: Bid Manager Steve Chambers, Social Value Manager Helen Clements and various Angel Hill College students/staff.
North West: Graham, ISG, Galliford Try and John Sisk
Contractors teamed up in the North West to deliver a collaborative presentation to over 30 SEND students (yr 7-14) at The Grange SEND School in Gorton around careers in construction, myth busting and hidden jobs.
The group celebrated National Inclusion Week and encouraged the children to take part with a photo prop reading #IAmEverydayPeople to celebrate their uniqueness.
Also on hand was Chewbacca the Alpaca, who was a big hit with the contractors!
Following the interactive day spent at the school, each contractor is following up with further site visits and work experience placements, leaving a lasting positive impact.
Kate Corbishley, Assistant Head Teacher, Grange School Testimonial: “Thank you so much for coming to chat to the students.A couple of them have been chatting about the different companies this afternoon, especially the young man who walked around on the tour with us. He is going to have a google of the companies and he is eager for a site visit and any potential work experience, so if this is possible please do let me know.”
London: Jerram Falkus construction Ltd
World of Work / Jerram Falkus Ltd/Barking and Dagenham Jerram Falkus have become a Level 3 Disability Confident Employer and are leading on a new pilot project within the borough to encourage and support other businesses to do the same.
The organisation identified and ring-fenced the opportunity to employ a local resident that has special educational needs from a marginalised employment group.
Ryan (pictured) works as a welfare cleaner three days a week on a site in Barking. The scheme is seeing construction work being carried out for Barking and Dagenham regeneration company, Be First. The site is currently undergoing demolition works and Ryan is helping Project Manager Mark Conway ensure everything is kept in order.
Ryan’s duties include everything from keeping the cabin, changing rooms and toilets clean and tidy, to helping Mark ensure health and safety procedures are followed on-site at all times. There’s no getting past Ryan without the correct footwear!
Alison Cormack, Social Value Manager, commented: “The opportunity to work has changed Ryan’s life. He is learning new skills and meeting new people, both of which have led to an increase in confidence. He now feels like he has a purpose and a routine for his days. The additional income he receives from working has led to greater independence and happiness in areas such as making important life choices and pursuing new interests.”
When Ryan started work with Jerram Falkus he was not only provided with the mandatory and required PPE, but also corporate clothing to ensure that he felt embedded into the company from the start. In time, as Ryan’s confidence increases, Jerram Falkus plan to look into developing a training plan for him, to further increase his qualifications and improve his future career opportunities.
Ryan said: “The advice I would give to someone in this position is to try and be positive that something will come up. Never say never! That’s one thing my family always said to me, never ever give up, no matter how hard things get. Something will always come up.”
Also in London: Galliford Try
Galliford Try engaged with Bexley Twofold; a job search, training, and supported employment service for residents in Bexley, with learning disabilities who have a need for support to access training and employment opportunities.
The organisations commitment for the SEND initiative is the Employment of two adults with learning disabilities; Tom and Reece, who previously attended the existing School where they have been placed on a project for a new SEN school in Belvedere.
Both Tom and Reece will work on the site every week for a minimum of four hours in paid employment every Wednesday for a minimum of six months. Their responsibilities include administration support, welfare cleaning and supporting the recycling initiative on the project. Through employment this will help support their confidence through team building and social interaction with the wider project team.
Tom, Student from Woodside School Testimonial: “I completed my second week at Cornerstone, and I am thoroughly enjoying meeting new people and getting involved on the project.”
Heather Bryant, from Galliford Try: “It has been a joy to see two existing students return to their old school and for them to have the opportunity in seeing their old artwork displayed on the external walls. We are very much looking forward to them both being a part of the journey in seeing this project come together.”
Yorkshire: Morgan Sindall & City Build
Our Yorkshire Region saw Morgan Sindall team up with City Build with plans in place to conduct site visits for Students from Camphill College Wakefield (age 16-24). Camphill Wakefield is a specialist college for young people with special educational needs and disabilities.
The visit, planned in for the coming weeks will see students visit Morgan Sindall’s; Wakefield Trinity Rugby Club stand redevelopment site. During the visit they will gain a better understanding of construction jobs, take part in an induction & dress up in PPE, featuring different types of site gloves for sensory purposes. As well as a site tour, lunch with site team and talks about jobs in construction.
SOCIAL VALUE ADD
A collective £82,244.44 Social Value Add has been generated as a result of September SEND activities that are non-project specific from sub-groups of Contractors across our national framework.
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Faye Dolan, an esteemed professional and Framework Director at Procure Partnerships, boasts a rich and diverse career spanning seven years in the construction industry. Faye’s journey within Procure Partnerships began in 2018 as a Key Account Manager, initially overseeing the North West region and later extending her purview to the entire North.
