Member Article

Innovative partnership gets young people on the road to employment

Two young apprentices are going from strength to strength following a partnership between a local construction firm and St Helens Chamber.

Last year, M&Y Maintenance and Construction, which employs over 250 people, recruited five young adults to join their team through an innovative new recruitment and skills programme developed by St Helens Chamber.

The programme, consisted of eight weeks basic training at the St Helens Chamber construction centre followed by six months paid work experience with M&Y Maintenance and Construction, and helped the trainees obtain a CSCS card, DBS check, and an application for a provisional driving licence and subsidised driving lessons.

Following competition of the programme, the prospective apprentices were interviewed, and two candidates, Neil Hynes and Emma Ashcroft, successfully secured positions on a full time training programme.

Neil and Emma are now working towards their Level 2 Diploma in Building Maintenance, Multi-Trade Repair and Refurbishment, and have become key members of the team at M&Y Construction and Maintenance.

Gill Kelly, Managing Director of M&Y, said: “We pride ourselves on employing local people and also offering opportunities through apprenticeships.

“By linking with St Helens Chamber, we were able to offer potential apprentices the chance to get an idea of what a full time training scheme would involve, and also make sure they had all the checks and cards they would need.

“Since the end of the initial programme, Neil and Emma have entered full time apprenticeships and are really excelling as part of our voids team. Everybody here is really proud of what they are achieving.”

Joanne Abraham, Director of Training Services, at St Helens Chamber said: “We are committed to helping people into work through our training and Apprenticeship programmes.

“We support our students throughout their employment to make sure that they progress and develop, which in turn will upskill the workforce and make the business more successful.

“M&Y have recognised the benefits that new skills can bring to an organisation and have made good on their pledge to support the local community by employing local people.

“We are delighted to have found them two new employees who are making a valuable contribution to their team and look forward to continuing to provide training opportunities to their staff.”

M&Y Maintenance and Construction is an award winning business offering high levels of repairs, maintenance and construction across the North West. For more information visit my-maintenance.co.uk

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Gary Jones .