Partnership
Contract Scotland has developed a significant long-term partnership with The Bridges Programmes. The company supports the work of the charity by providing work-shadowing opportunities to refugees and assisting in the development of the management of The Bridges Programme. Contract Scotland has integrated the partnership across all levels of the business; a Director works on a part time basis for the charity to support the charity’s work in the construction sector; the company. Due to changes in the economy, the company had to vary its original commitment of securing employment for 20 clients of The Bridge Programme. Contract Scotland had sought to utilise its role as a convenor of business to leverage job opportunities for those further from employment through its business network. Instead, the company was able to provide nearly 50 people with job shadowing placements, leveraging support from clients and contacts, including other CommunityMark companies. Such support has provided The Bridges Programme with new corporate partners who can offer work experience and potential jobs for refugees the charity works with. At the same time, acting as this broker has provided access to new opportunities for Contract Scotland. The company has been able to establish relationships with companies such as MITIE and Frank Haslam Milan, which has led those Companies to placing vacancies with Contract Scotland.
Engaged employees
Contract Scotland has successfully engaged its employees in the work that it undertakes in the community. Feedback from employees shows that they feel engaged with the company’s community investment activities, have a clear understanding of what the company is trying to achieve in the community and feel more committed to the company as a result. By leveraging this support, Contract Scotland has been able to make a bigger difference to its communities, whilst supporting the development of the business. For example, seven employees have engaged with the company’s activities with The Bridges Programmes, giving them a greater understanding of the barriers to employment people face whilst developing their skills in CV preparation, interview technique and the job application process.
Looking to the future
Contract Scotland plans to continue making a long-term and sustainable investment in the community. All CommunityMark companies are challenged to consider how they can increase their long-term positive impact on society, whilst decreasing their negative impact. Contract Scotland have set clear targets for the difference that they plan to achieve in the community over the next three years that they will hold the CommunityMark. These include:
- Raising employee engagement in volunteering days to 50% by 2013, with 10% of employees building long-term relationships with community organisations beyond their day’s volunteering leave provided by the company.
- Engaging a new overseas community partner to support the company’s target of generating 5% of turnover through international recruitment by the end of 2012.
- Engage 10% of temporary workers to support the company’s community activities by 2013; enabling 10% of Bridges clients who are not work ready to gain meaningful work experience
- Bring 50 people closer to the job market over the next three years by finding job shadow placements for Bridges clients, helping to create greater diversity in the Scottish Construction Industry.
- To support this, they will engage 25 new businesses to support job placements, from which 10% will become new clients for Contract Scotland
For more information on Contract Scotland’s approach to community investment, please visit http://www.contractscotland.co.uk/features/client_services.asp?pageID=9
