Apprentices looking after Manchester homes win awards » Housing » 24dash.com

Apprentices helping to look after homes and public buildings across Manchester have won awards in an annual prize-giving organised by Manchester Working Limited, a joint venture between national maintenance contractor Morrison Facilities Services and Manchester City Council.

The joint venture contract, worth up to £60 million per year, provides repairs and maintenance for homes owned by the city council which are managed by Northwards Housing.

The awards ceremony was held in the Great Hall at Manchester Town Hall with an invited audience of staff from Manchester Working, Manchester City Council, Northwards Housing and City South Manchester Housing Trust as well as senior managers from Morrison Facilities Services and some of the company’s suppliers.

The first year apprentice award winner was heating engineer Kirk Marsh and the second year apprentice award winner was joiner Scott Newsham. They will both now go on to national apprentice awards run by Morrison Facilities Services.

Shirley Hoyland, human resources manager of Manchester Working, said: “Apprenticeships are a valuable way for people from our local communities to obtain both permanent employment and a National Vocational Qualification. Manchester Working is delighted to be able to recognise the success of these apprentices in making the best possible use of the training opportunity that their apprenticeships offer them and in making a significant contribution to the success of our work with local people.”

As well as the apprentice awards, for the first time this year other employees were included in the event. New awards included Manager of the Year, Employee of the Year, Team of the Year, Mentor of the Year and Safety, Health and Environmental Ambassador of the Year.

Winners were judged from nomination forms received from employees across the company. Clients and sponsors formed a panel of judges which decided who the winners in each category would be.

Shirley added: “The award ceremony was organised to recognise those individuals that made valuable contributions to the company. We wanted to give the winners and runners up a sense of reward and recognition for their efforts.”

Earlier this year Manchester Working Limited recruited 12 new apprentices to join its team of skilled trades people and support staff.

Manchester Working now has 38 apprenticeship trainees in its total workforce of 550 people because it has recruited at least 12 each year since 2006; including a finance apprentice and two trainee quantity surveyors.

Shirley said: “We are delighted to be able to continue to invest in creating employment and providing skills training for local people, despite the current economic situation in the housing and property market. All the apprentices are recruited from the areas where we are working as part of our commitment to employment and education in the local community. By employing locally, we get people who know the area and the wages we pay are being recycled to boost the local economy.

“Manchester Working recognises the importance of its apprenticeship programme in promoting local employment and training opportunities. Employment and training help to secure sustainable and cohesive communities. We also recognise the tremendous value that the apprentices bring to our company.”

More than 100 local people applied for apprenticeships with Manchester Working this year. From these, 60 were selected to attend assessment sessions, 28 were interviewed and finally 12 apprentices were recruited. Each of this year’s Manchester Working apprentices is being taught either electrical, heating or plumbing skills.

Shirley added: “Manchester Working is very grateful for the support and assistance that was received in the recruitment process from Northwards Housing, City South Manchester Housing Trust and The Manchester College. This is an excellent example of how positive relationships with our partners can have a significant and lasting impact within our local community.”