Southway Housing Trust

You are here: Home > Your Southway > Southway in the news > You're hired

NEWS STORY: JULY 2008

This page was published as a news story on the date shown. The information in it may have been updated on other pages since then. Please use the navigation links, the search facility, or site-map to check.

The apprentice: you're HIRED!

Signing up: Southway chief executive, Karen Mitchell (seated left) signing the charter with partner companies and some of the apprentices.

Looking up: the charter means more jobs and training opportunities for local people.

New agreement means more jobs and training for local people

A special agreement between Southway and our building company partners will see scores of new training opportunities and jobs across much of South Manchester.

Our massive programme of home improvements is about much more than bricks and mortar. It's about investing in Southway people and boosting social regeneration too.

Community

One of the reasons we chose our partners - Bramall Construction, the Lord Group and Wates Living Space - was because of their commitment to the local community. A commitment that was shown when three apprentices started work on our home improvement programme on the day we launched.

The Employment and Training Charter, signed on Friday 27 June 2008, means local residents will get their share of the job and training opportunities that our multi-million pound investment will bring.

Skilled-up

The charter commits the companies to providing two years of training for every £1 million we spend on home improvements. The agreement also encourages them to use smaller local firms to deliver specific improvements.

The companies have teamed up with employment and training agents - Skills Solutions and Manchester College of Arts and Technology (MANCAT) - to get local people skilled-up. Their target is to see at least 80 percent of all apprentices and trainees complete the course to NVQ level 2 standard.

Training programmes follow 'Investors in People' national standards (which set the level of staff development a good organisation should have) and health and safety rules, and the companies must meet equality and diversity criteria when they take on new staff. And every trainee gets a 'buddy' or mentor to help them settle in.

Commitment to local people

"This agreement shows our commitment to local people" says Ian Stone, Bramall's construction manager. "It's a great way to give something back to the community."

Southway director Jane Gant agrees: "We're determined to create more local jobs and training opportunities. By encouraging local employment, we’ll make a lasting difference."

Dale tops the list

One of the apprentices taken on by Bramall Construction to work on Southway home improvements has won an award for his excellent attendance, attitude and commitment at MANCAT. Eighteen year old Dale Bowe from Burnage scooped the 'most improved plumber' award and a £50 prize from Skills Solutions. It's another sign of how the regeneration of homes and estates is bringing real benefits to the lives of the local community.

Quick links