A Midlands-based social landlord has appointed three new heads of service within its asset management function. Platform Housing Group – one of the UK’s largest social landlords – has appointed Samantha Evans as Head of Strategic Asset Management; Martin Woods as Head of External Contracts and Stephen Edwards as Head
Glencar, an expanding construction company specialising in the industrial, logistics, distribution, manufacturing, life science and pharmaceutical sectors has today announced that it has appointed James Scott into the new role of Head of Sustainability. James will be responsible for leading the development and implementation of a robust sustainability strategy across
The growth of IM Properties’ development pipeline has prompted the appointment of Frank Fitzgerald as project director. Recruited from global construction and property consultancy, RLB, a long-term consultant of IM Properties, Frank joins the project delivery team, swapping his external role for in-house. Having worked on many of IM Properties’
RED Construction, the specialist main contractor, has announced a new group structure and two distinct operating companies to facilitate the next stage of the company’s growth. The new structure comprises RED Construction Group, RED London, and the newly formed RED South West. Founded in 2016, RED Construction Group has fast
Clara Edwards has been appointed as Marketing & Communications Manager for leading construction skills and training provider, The Skills Centre. As the marketing lead within the business, Clara will advise on strategic marketing development, as well as managing all its communications and promotions planning, brand development, internal communications and digital
A Midlands-based property and land company has strengthened its senior team with two promotions. Richard Mees has been promoted to Chief Executive at Rainier Developments Ltd and Josh Sinnett becomes Managing Director. Both have been with the company — which has its headquarters in Henley-in-Arden — since its early days,
Make UK has welcomed the latest new cohort of 170 engineering apprentices to its Technology Hub in Aston, Birmingham – a 41% year-on-year increase in its intake. The apprentices, who will be studying a range of courses from Level 2 Welding Operator to Level 3 Engineering Technician, will spend the
A retrofit service that helps people in Greater Manchester to eco-refurbish their homes is planning to train 3,500 builders, joiners, electricians and plumbers in green skills over the next five years with money raised via a £550,000 community share offer. The not-for-profit ‘People Powered Retrofit’ service is seeking investment from
The largest ever intake of apprentices taken on by engineering specialist Spencer Group have all now secured full-time positions with the company. Hull-based Spencer Group hired 14 apprentices two years ago, with the full cohort of 18-year-olds coming from the city’s employer-led school, Ron Dearing University Technical College (UTC). Now,
Winvic Construction Ltd, a leading main contractor that specialises in the design and delivery of multi-sector construction and civil engineering projects, and its longstanding client, IM Properties, has welcomed the first learners inside its new ‘Future of Construction’ Training Centre. The Centre is located at Mercia Park, Leicestershire and its
A Midlands-based social landlord has appointed three new heads of service within its asset management function. Platform Housing Group – one of the UK’s largest social landlords – has appointed Samantha Evans as Head of Strategic Asset Management; Martin Woods as Head of External Contracts and Stephen Edwards as Head of Sustainability. The roles – which are all new within the organisation – are part of an ongoing development of the business area. As the new Head of Strategic Asset Management, Samantha Evans’ role is to develop operational plans to future proof Platform homes; she will also be responsible for asset performance evaluation, identifying risks and areas of low performance and developing strategies and standards to address these. Sam will head up a team that is responsible for monitoring the condition of Platform’s homes and planning for the improvements that are needed to keep them safe, affordable and desirable for our customers. Prior to joining Platform, Samantha was Asset Manager at Citizen Housing for 14 years. Samantha said : “I am delighted to join Platform at this stage of its journey to deliver an ambitious programme of change. My aim is to implement an integrated active asset management approach which will place Platform as the ‘go to’ organisation for the service. Having spent my career in social housing, I am passionate about the impact our sector has on improving our customers lives. I see asset management as much more than just bricks and mortar; it is about providing our customers with desirable, safe and affordable homes, a foundation for life. Our duty is to manage our assets by being socially motivated and commercially minded in order to re-invest surpluses into delivering our social purpose and improving the life chances of our customers.” Martin Woods – who has joined Platform Housing Group as Head of External Contracts – was previously Head of Asset Management at Lincolnshire Housing Partnership where he was responsible for planned maintenance, building safety, asset management as well as development and sales delivery. In his new role, Martin will head up a team responsible for the delivery of maintenance work that is not delivered by Platform Property Care. Martin said : “It is such an exciting time to be joining Platform; the asset team is at the beginning of a journey that looks set to impact significantly on the way we work and deliver services to our customers. Social housing is more important than ever, as the population continues to grow and people find it increasingly difficult to purchase a home outright. Our role is to drive up the quality of social housing as much as possible to create communities where people want to live and feel safe. I am looking forward to playing my part and making a difference.” The social landlord has also appointed Stephen Edwards as Head of Sustainability; previously employed at Catalyst Housing Limited as Sustainability Manager, this new role at Platform will see Stephen developing a sustainability strategy for the Group, identifying opportunities for decarbonising its homes and supporting the implementation of green and emerging technologies. Stephen said : “It is a privilege to be here at Platform supporting our journey to zero carbon and creating a more sustainable future. I have always had a passion for the environment and have been embedding sustainable thinking into my work for more than 25 years. The challenge of achieving net zero carbon is huge and probably the most important challenge of our lifetimes. I look forward to helping Platform become a leading sustainable organisation.” Linda Colburn, Director of Strategic Asset Management at Platform Housing Group said : “We are thrilled to welcome Martin, Stephen and Sam to Platform. They bring a depth and breadth of expertise in asset management, delivery and sustainability that will allow us to redraw the traditional way the sector sees asset management into a much more integrated approach. They will be integral in helping set the Platform Standard from development stage onwards as well as co-designing our investment interventions with our customers. Their expertise will allow us to map out our path to zero carbon and integrate that into our investment programmes and how we manage the estate; understanding how our homes impact our customers to deliver to them increased safety, affordability, utility and pride.” Linda concluded : “We have created these roles to provide the additional focus needed to become a truly modern assets function in a truly modern housing association. The central pillars of building safety, strategic asset management, investment, delivery and sustainability will each be led by a Head of Service, forming an integrated team with a holistic view of how we improve the value of our homes to customers and achieve the highest standards of asset management.” Platform Housing Group – which owns 46,000 homes in total – completed 1448 homes in 2019/20 (1,598 in 2018/19) at an investment of £258m (£228m in 2018/19). The Group also built more social rented homes – at a figure of 981 – during the past 2 years in England than any other provider, 523 in 2019/20, almost 33% of the total homes built. Platform Housing Group’s operating area is from Herefordshire in the West to the Lincolnshire coast in the East, and from the Derbyshire Dales in the North to the Cotswolds in the South.
Glencar, an expanding construction company specialising in the industrial, logistics, distribution, manufacturing, life science and pharmaceutical sectors has today announced that it has appointed James Scott into the new role of Head of Sustainability. James will be responsible for leading the development and implementation of a robust sustainability strategy across all areas of the business, in line with Glencar’s strategic vision. Before joining Glencar, James spent over 20-years working as a Sustainability Consultant, working for Clients in the construction, retail and robotics industries on a diverse range of projects. Glencar Managing Director Eddie McGillycuddy commented: “We are delighted to welcome James into this crucial new role for the business. The construction industry has a huge opportunity and indeed responsibility to drive the sustainability agenda and we are committed to being at the forefront of this. James will have the full support of the entire Glencar team to drive this crucial area of the business forward and bring our vision for economic social governance to life. We look forward to him getting started and working with our customers and consultants on supporting their ESG strategy.” Also commenting newly appointed Head of sustainability James Scott said: “The world is facing unprecedented environmental challenges that impact all of us, in our work and our home lives. I think we all understand that the industry we work in has a significant role to play in tackling these existential threats. Glencar, as a growing and agile construction company, has a huge opportunity to make a clear, bold commitment to its sustainability position in the industry. I’m therefore very excited to be appointed in this role for Glencar. Part of my role starts with the articulation of this position, and, with the support of everyone in the company, the development of a roadmap to realise this vision. As the term roadmap suggests, this will be a journey. Key priority areas for the company are net zero carbon, climate change resilience, responsible procurement, waste and the circular economy, and delivering social value. I look forward to meeting everyone and working to deliver Glencar’s commitment to being a successful, sustainable business for years to come.
The growth of IM Properties’ development pipeline has prompted the appointment of Frank Fitzgerald as project director. Recruited from global construction and property consultancy, RLB, a long-term consultant of IM Properties, Frank joins the project delivery team, swapping his external role for in-house. Having worked on many of IM Properties’ large-scale strategic sites including Birch Coppice, Blythe Valley, Mercia Park and Peddimore, Frank’s in-depth understanding of the company and its projects makes him a perfect fit for the position. Jason Jasper, UK project director for IM Properties said: “We currently have a development pipeline of 15 million sq ft and are delivering some of the region’s most significant new manufacturing and logistic schemes. “To add capacity and the most impact to the team, we needed an individual who could hit the ground running and instantly understood us as a company, and Frank just ticked every box.” Jasper continued: “We’ve got some exciting plans coming forward and a range of sustainability targets we want to achieve over the next ten years, which adds significantly to both the planning and delivery of our schemes. “They’ll certainly be no shortage of challenges for Frank to get stuck into over the coming months and years.” Frank, who worked with Arcadis for seven years, now known as AYD, before his 10 years at RLB, added: “It’s a fantastic opportunity and natural transition for me from consultant to in-house project director. “IM Properties is such a fast-paced, innovative, industry leader, and that means that life is never dull when working for them, and you are guaranteed to always be pushing the boundaries and working on projects that inevitably turn into real career highlights.” Located in the Midlands, IM Properties is one of the UK’s largest privately-owned property companies owned by the IM Group, focused on a sustainable future in the sectors it invests and develops in including offices, logistics, manufacturing and new homes.
RED Construction, the specialist main contractor, has announced a new group structure and two distinct operating companies to facilitate the next stage of the company’s growth. The new structure comprises RED Construction Group, RED London, and the newly formed RED South West. Founded in 2016, RED Construction Group has fast become an established market leader in the London region. The company has a reputation for working in partnership with clients to deliver complex, high profile landmark projects in the capital. The new group structure creates a series of connected businesses with shared values and operating methodologies. Each is led by respected industry experts, with RED Construction Group’s main board providing strategic input. Based in Bristol, RED South West offers unparalleled expertise and market knowledge and can deliver across a wide range of markets in line with regional requirements. These include commercial, residential, education and industrial buildings. The RED South West team is led by Derek Quinn, who has been appointed as managing director. Derek has 35 years of experience, most recently as Executive Director at Bristol-based Midas Construction, where Derek worked closely alongside other key members of the RED team. Derek qualified as a quantity surveyor at John Laing, following which he worked internationally before holding a senior position at a FTSE250 construction company. Born in Bristol and with extensive experience in the South West, Derek brings a detailed understanding of construction solutions specific to the region’s needs and client base. Graham Sturge, Managing Director of RED Construction Group, commented: “Our strong, consistent and considered growth is creating a number of exciting new opportunities for the business in and out of the capital. The creation of the group structure, including the launch of RED South West and the appointment of the highly regarded Derek Quinn as MD, will allow us to continue our expansion, but without over-reaching or compromising on the quality of what we achieve with our clients. Derek and his counterparts in RED London are experts in their fields with unique insight, with the support, innovation and values that drive everything RED Construction does.” RED South West Managing Director, Derek Quinn, added: “It is fantastic to be joining RED Construction Group to lead RED South West. The new business has been created to respond to the significant need in the region for a main contractor with the depth, breadth and reliability that RED is renowned for from its work in London. I look forward to working with Graham and the board to grow another successful business as part of the Group, drawing on the team’s experience in high-profile projects in the region.” Graham Sturge continued: “We are very proud of what we have achieved as a team throughout 2021. Our new structure will continue this momentum with the focused operating companies and their highly motivated, client-focused, and effective leadership. There are very exciting times ahead for the business.” Sitting alongside RED South West in the new structure is RED London, established experts in complex construction in the capital. Current RED London projects include the restoration and redevelopment for Lore Group of 100 High Street in Shoreditch to create a new independent hotel concept, the redevelopment of 80 New Bond Street for Hines to deliver a flagship mixed-use destination in the heart of the West End, and the construction of the Brent Cross Town visitor pavilion for Argent Related and Barnet Council.
Clara Edwards has been appointed as Marketing & Communications Manager for leading construction skills and training provider, The Skills Centre. As the marketing lead within the business, Clara will advise on strategic marketing development, as well as managing all its communications and promotions planning, brand development, internal communications and digital activity. “This is an ambitious business with a genuine purpose at its core. I am already in awe of the positive impact it has on each local community it operates within, and the tangible difference The Skills Centre continues to make on the lives of the people within those communities,” said Clara of her appointment. “I hope to be able to properly tell these amazing success stories in these areas and beyond, encouraging key construction stakeholders to continue to engage with us and to attract more and more people on to our programmes. The work of The Skills Centre is truly transformational for many, and it is an inspiring place to be.” The Skills Centre is headquartered in Cardiff and provides construction training opportunities at its six centres located around London, including at Earls Court and Olympic Park, as well as a recently opened skills centre in the West Midlands. It partners with major developers and contractors such as British Land, Transport for London, JCB, Lendlease, Mace and others to offer training with direct pathways to jobs, for those looking to start a career in the construction sector. New developments include centres also being planned in the North East of England, Liverpool, the South West and in Wales; which also involve partnerships with major contractors and leading developers to help attract and up-skill the next generation of workers in the construction sector. “This is a new role for The Skills Centre at a time when it is experiencing exceptional growth. We have the opportunity to really maximise what has already been achieved and to leverage its hard-earned reputation to energise people and the sector as a whole – I couldn’t be more pleased to be here,” added Clara. The Birmingham City University marketing graduate joins The Skills Centre after working as Publicity & Events Co-ordinator for the Centre of Excellence in Emerging Tech at the University of South Wales; and has also had previous marketing roles at DevOps Group, Cerebral Palsy Cymru and Conscious Solutions. “Clara brings a wealth of experience to The Skills Centre, and we are delighted she has joined the team. She will help deliver our marketing plans with a clear vision aligned with the overall strategic vision of the business, and I’ve no doubt she will be a huge asset to our teams around the UK,” said CEO of The Skills Centre, Jon Howlin.
A Midlands-based property and land company has strengthened its senior team with two promotions. Richard Mees has been promoted to Chief Executive at Rainier Developments Ltd and Josh Sinnett becomes Managing Director. Both have been with the company — which has its headquarters in Henley-in-Arden — since its early days, with Richard previously Managing Director and Josh one of the team of Land Directors. Rainier Developments was established in 2015 by Eric Grove, one of the most successful property entrepreneurs in the country. Eric, Richard and Josh have grown the business to become a market leader in property and land development. There are currently 40 sites in its portfolio, which is managed by an in-house land, planning and development team. Richard Mees said: “Josh has been with Rainier since 2017 and was the first person we hired after I had arrived the year before, so his promotion to Managing Director is recognition of how he has helped the business grow. “He has immense experience in this sector and has a significant role to play in our strengthened senior team and as we look to match and improve on the rapid growth that we’ve seen in recent years.” Josh Sinnett, 32, said: “Rainier is a growing business and one with a strong reputation in the sector, so it’s a really good opportunity for me to step up to the role of Managing Director. “We’ve had a particularly successful 18 months, and I’m really looking forward to getting involved in both the strategic sites and the urban development work that we’re doing in the Midlands and in other parts of the country.” Rainier Developments recently secured funding from West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) and the Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership (GBSLEP) to build 37 one- and two-bedroom apartments and commercial space in Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter.
Make UK has welcomed the latest new cohort of 170 engineering apprentices to its Technology Hub in Aston, Birmingham – a 41% year-on-year increase in its intake. The apprentices, who will be studying a range of courses from Level 2 Welding Operator to Level 3 Engineering Technician, will spend the next 12 months with Make UK, learning the technical side of their chosen specialism, as well as other areas like health and safety and time management, before returning to their employers, who include companies such as Severn Trent, Jaguar Land Rover, Ibsock, Forterra and Ishida. Stephen Mitchell, Director of Apprentices and Technical Training at Make UK said: “It’s fantastic to accept the latest intake of apprentices and see a full return to face to face teaching; the increase in numbers shows that there is a great appetite for apprenticeships amongst both young people and employers alike. It’s vital that we work together to help bridge the skills gap which manufacturing currently faces.” Make UK recently announced it is backing a new initiative by support platform Next Gen Makers to help manufacturing and engineering employers retain apprenticeship talent and maximise their investment in young people. As leading training provider sponsor, Make UK will help promote the Engineering Apprenticeships: Best Practice Programme – an initiative designed to support firms to overcome skills challenges and build talent for future success. For more information on apprenticeships with Make UK, call 0121 344 7900 or email asrecruitment@makeuk.org
A retrofit service that helps people in Greater Manchester to eco-refurbish their homes is planning to train 3,500 builders, joiners, electricians and plumbers in green skills over the next five years with money raised via a £550,000 community share offer. The not-for-profit ‘People Powered Retrofit’ service is seeking investment from individual investors so it can scale up its specialist eco-renovation training and help the city region hit its 2038 net-zero carbon target. Although there is demand from householders to green their properties, there is a shortage of skilled, local contractors who can deliver the work. People Powered Retrofit is already a member of Mayor Andy Burnham’s Greater Manchester Retrofitting Task Force which aims to tackle this problem. In addition to developing new green jobs and skills, People Powered Retrofit plans to use the money raised to make 1,150 homes in the region more energy efficient by 2026, saving 2,700 tonnes of carbon. From as little as £250, anyone can become a part-owner of People Powered Retrofit which already works with hundreds of householders in Greater Manchester, giving them independent advice on finding trusted ‘green’ contractors and choosing the right eco-upgrades: from wall, floor or roof insulation to high performance windows and doors or draught-proofing works. Funds raised through the community share offer will also help the not-for-profit service to recruit extra retrofit advisors, co-ordinators and assessors and reach thousands more householders, supporting them to improve the energy performance of their homes. Jonathan Atkinson, People Powered Retrofit programme manager said: “Our homes are responsible for about 20% of the UK’s carbon emissions but to make properties more energy efficient, at scale, we need thousands more builders, installers and tradespeople with specialist green skills. Money raised through the community share offer will go towards skilling up this ‘green’ workforce.” Floor insulation contractor, Boris Afinogenov said: “The training I got through People Powered Retrofit convinced me to turn my woodwork hobby into work. They gave me access to information and to people connected with floor insulation. I also learnt about whole house insulation. They helped me to realise my ambitions, so I didn’t have to go back to my sales job.” Ethex CEO, Lisa Ashford said: “We’re very pleased to welcome People Powered Retrofit to the Ethex platform. Our investors love to use their money to fund impactful organisations like this to scale and grow, and this organisation is a great example of grassroots action to tackle climate change.” The People Powered Retrofit community share offer is open for investment until 30 November 2021. Investments start at £250 and go up to £55,000. Investments in the share offer target a 5% return. Visit https://www.ethex.org.uk/invest/people-powered-retrofit for more details. Investors should read the Community Share Offer document carefully, including the Terms and Conditions section, before making a decision to invest.
The largest ever intake of apprentices taken on by engineering specialist Spencer Group have all now secured full-time positions with the company. Hull-based Spencer Group hired 14 apprentices two years ago, with the full cohort of 18-year-olds coming from the city’s employer-led school, Ron Dearing University Technical College (UTC). Now, having completed their two-year apprenticeships, all 14 have started permanent, full-time trainee positions with Spencer Group across a range of different departments of the business. Spencer Group has also just taken on another nine apprentices, in addition to the five that were recruited last year, meaning it has hired a total of 28 under its apprenticeship programme in just two years – all coming from Ron Dearing UTC. Spencer Group, which is one of Ron Dearing UTC’s Founding Partners, is committed to taking on a new group of apprentices from the pioneering school each year as part of its succession planning and growth. Charlie Spencer OBE, Executive Chairman and founder of Spencer Group, said: “We’re absolutely delighted to have taken on every single one of the apprentices we recruited two years ago in a permanent, full-time position. “Each of them has been selected by the specific team they are going to be working within and I think that speaks volumes about the quality of the apprentices we are hiring from Ron Dearing UTC. “They are all at the required academic level, have excellent technical and employability skills and, perhaps most importantly, have a brilliant attitude. “We will be taking on a new group of apprentices from Ron Dearing UTC each year as this is a proven pipeline of future talent for us as our business continues to grow.” Based at Humber Quays on Hull Marina, Spencer Group is one of the UK’s leading privately owned, multi-disciplinary engineering businesses, with a directly-employed workforce of over 250. Every apprentice that secures a permanent position with Spencer Group continues their academic development by studying up to degree level with one of the company’s education partners. They are also given the option of studying for a master’s degree. Yvonne Moir, HR Director at Spencer Group, said: “The appointment of this full cohort of apprentices to permanent positions in the company is proof that this recruitment model works. “It is crucial for us to have a talent stream that fits the specific needs of our business and Ron Dearing UTC provides exactly that. “The apprentices are all prepared for the world of work when they join us and it has been amazing how quickly they have adapted to the business. It’s as though they have been working here for years.” Sarah Pashley, Principal of Ofsted Outstanding-rated Ron Dearing UTC, said: “It’s very rewarding to see that each of our students who joined Spencer Group as an apprentice two years ago has now secured a permanent position. “It’s also really pleasing to see our latest cohort begin their apprenticeships and embark on what will undoubtedly be an exciting journey for them all. “We’re extremely grateful for the support of Spencer Group and all our employer partners, who provide our students with incredible opportunities like this.” Each Engineering Apprentice who joins Spencer Group spends time working in different areas of the business to gain a comprehensive understanding of how it operates and identify the area they are most suited to. Matthew Hunter, 21, has just begun his new role as a Trainee Quantity Surveyor after joining Spencer Group as an Engineering Apprentice two years ago. He said: “I planned to specialise in design but, having had the opportunity to experience different departments of the business, I now know this is the best fit for me. “I’m absolutely delighted to have been given this opportunity and I just want to keep developing and help Spencer Group as a business as much as I can, because everyone here has been so supportive.” Alex Burr, 18, has joined Spencer Group as an Engineering Apprentice as part of the latest intake from Ron Dearing UTC. She said: “Spencer Group were my number one choice company to work for when I was at Ron Dearing, so I’m really excited to be here. Now that I’ve started, I just can’t wait to get stuck in.” Spencer Group delivers innovative engineering and construction solutions in the rail, bridges, transport, infrastructure, materials handling, energy and industrial sectors.
Winvic Construction Ltd, a leading main contractor that specialises in the design and delivery of multi-sector construction and civil engineering projects, and its longstanding client, IM Properties, has welcomed the first learners inside its new ‘Future of Construction’ Training Centre. The Centre is located at Mercia Park, Leicestershire and its opening celebrates the two companies’ joint intention to make a difference to local people’s lives through social value initiatives, which includes a focus on bringing forward training and employment opportunities. The Mercia Park ‘Future of Construction’ Training Centre comprises an onsite construction training facility with practical outdoor space, which is not only available for Winvic and its breadth of subcontractors to use, but also colleges, universities and specialist training providers in the construction industry are being invited to make use of the facilities. All seven participants on the inaugural traffic management training course impressed, so much so that they were offered employment with various traffic management contractors at the end of the course. Developer IM Properties has provided the land at its Mercia Park site while Winvic has funded the on-site Training Centre as part of their social value commitments, ensuring the development has a positive impact on surrounding communities. The first vocational course to launch the Training Centre was facilitated by traffic management training specialist Vocation Training Ltd with support to deliver technical qualifications from Up To Speed Training and Assessment, and practical assessments from TSM, who is one of Winvic’s traffic management subcontractors. The participants were trained over a four-week period and one of the job roles offered – a Trainee Operative position accepted by Anthony Land – is with TSM at Mercia Park. The construction training facility comprises classroom, kitchen and bathroom facilities in addition to a significant, flexible outside space where a wide range of practical training can be undertaken. The area is securely fenced and dedicated parking spaces means the Centre can be used safely and independently of the construction works. Nevertheless, due to it being adjacent to the site, access can be granted to enhance training course learnings. The outdoor space enables contractors and training providers to set up practical training scenarios as opposed to relying on models and videos to teach – from traffic management to health and safety, from groundworks to steelworks – while the classroom environment can accommodate approximately 10 people for theoretical training. Danny Nelson, Winvic’s Director for Industrial, Distribution & Logistics, commented: “As part of our social value commitment for Mercia Park we are delighted to be able to work in partnership with IM Properties and our supply chain to bring benefits the local community by facilitating training and skills development for local people through our bespoke, on-site facility. It’s a real celebration that we have been able to welcome the first learners to Mercia Park, but what makes the launch of the ‘Future of Construction’ Training Centre even more special is that all seven trainees have been given traffic management jobs, illustrating that the outcomes can be quantifiable and local people can benefit from the construction work happening nearby to their homes. “We’re currently speaking to local and regional education and training providers about making use of the Centre and we have a number of our subcontractors lined up, excited to have a significant and flexible space at their disposal to deliver practical and theoretical training. Construction and vocational training go hand-in-hand – as we know through the apprenticeship and Year In Industry placements we offer – and we believe this Centre is a glimpse into the future how the industry will gain the skilled people it needs.” Kerry Amory, IM Properties’ social value manager, said: “We’re really pleased to see the training centre finally in action after a long wait during the pandemic for onsite training to return. We know the difference a bespoke facility will make, having witnessed the positive results on our other Leicestershire scheme, Hinckley Park. We’ve drawn on our experience from Hinckley to enhance the employment and skills opportunities at Mercia, which is crucial to us as a business and industry and integral to the delivery of Mercia Park. “Our values are shared not only by our supply chain but Winvic Construction’s too, with TSM, its Traffic Safety Management company, hiring the trainee operative now on site. We are currently in discussions with local FE colleges and third-party training providers to encourage them to use the new facility and have two further courses booked later in September. We would urge anyone interested in booking the facility to get in touch.” Helen Madden, at Vocation Training, said: “The Mercia Park ‘Future of Construction’ Training Centre that Winvic has created is a much needed, flexible space that is perfect for a wide range of hands-on and classroom based training courses. It’s an amazing facility and the best that we’ve ever had access to in relation to outdoor space, as its size allows for real-life working conditions to be assembled and practical scenarios carried out, and also because candidates get to experience the feel of a live construction site environment. It was clear that this hugely benefitted the traffic management training participants over the course of the training and it’s great news that all seven of them gained employment.” Richard Turbill, Operations Director at TSM, added: “We have been working as one of Winvic’s subcontractor partners for seven years and we feel honoured to have been part of the launch of the Mercia Park ‘Future of Construction’ Training Centre. Delivering the training was straightforward and efficient because the outdoor area is so spacious, and all the participants were able to get hands-on and therefore learn more quickly. All proved themselves to be worthy of job offers and Anthony who is now on site with TSM as a Trainee Operative at Mercia Park has shown great promise and is enjoying his new job.” Winvic delivered vast civils and infrastructure works to facilitate the 238-acre employment park and is now constructing 2.94 million sq ft global parts
