inform SOUTH WEST BUSINESS NEWS


Trainees put to the test to help the homeless


A group of 12 Redrow graduate trainees has completed a project in partnership with Help Bristol’s Homeless to convert an empty shipping container into a habitable space. This is part of the local charity’s wider goal to help members of the city’s homeless population by providing a roof over their heads while they receive help finding permanent accommodation. The graduates received no funding or resources instead relied on the skills acquired during their first year with Redrow. This meant they had to utilise contacts and relationships they had built up within the industry to source essential materials, deploy their project management and problem-


‘A career in housebuilding can be both rewarding and challenging’


solving skills and work closely together as a team. They acquired and fitted a kitchen and sanitary ware that was unable to be sold, but still worked perfectly, and ensured the whole container was finished to an exceptionally high standard. The end result is


a shipping container that has been transformed into a well- furnished living quarters complete with a kitchen and


wet room bathroom as well as fitting windows


and skylights. Clare Horton, new entrants programmes manager at Redrow, said: “A career in housebuilding can be both rewarding and challenging, requiring a broad range of skills from strong communication, problem-solving,


Graduate trainees from Redrow working on the shipping container project


negotiation and excellent time management. “These graduates had to demonstrate these qualities in bucket-loads to get the job done and we hope this project captures the imagination of young people considering their career options. “These graduates come from a


variety of areas within the business and had to work together to make a success of this task in a very short space of time. As well as the practical element of fitting out the


container, they deployed the skills they have been building over the last year to gather materials and solve problems along the way. It’s great to see how much progress they have made during their first year with Redrow and even better that it’s helping such a brilliant cause.” Every year Redrow’s newest


batch of graduates take part in a community challenge which aims to support a good cause while putting them through their paces.


Mayors must join the skills revolution


West-based business support service GetSet for Growth have urged the West of England Combined Authority mayor to spearhead a ‘skills revolution’ in the region during Business Showcase South West held at Ashton Gate, Bristol. The call for the revolution was issued in response to the most recent West


of England figures which reveal that 47% of businesses are reporting it hard to fill vacancies. A packed audience at Ashton Gate heard Bev Hurley CBE, chief executive officer of YTKO Group who run GetSet for Growth, highlight the importance of the new mayors across the UK as champions for skills. Bev said: “Many of the 700 businesses for whom GetSet for Growth have provided support tell us that improved worker skills are the key to filling vacancies which is a big step towards the achievement of their business aims. The new cohort of mayors across England provides the opportunity for a skills revolution. Their powers mean training can be determined locally to meet local needs.” WECA has already begun to capture funding to boost skills investment in the


Bev Hurley, Tim Bowles and the lord mayor Cllr Lesley Alexander, with GetSet for Growth staff


6 insight NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2017


region, complementing projects such as Skills West. Some £3.9m was recently announced for an Innovation Pilot to support social housing tenants into secure, and better-paid careers. West of England Mayor Tim Bowles, who was introduced by Bev at the Business Showcase, said: “I am committed to improving people’s skills in the West of England region. I also see business support organisations, like GetSet for Growth, as an important part of driving up skills.”


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36