Based in Croydon, Mansell's South East Region covers an area stretching from the river Thames to the English Channel and across Surrey, Kent and parts of Sussex. Nationally, the company generates a turnover of over £870 million and employs over 2,500 people, making it the largest construction services arm within the Balfour Beatty Group. With 118 employees and a turnover of over £60 million, Mansell's South East Region makes a significant contribution to the Mansell Business.
The Honor Oak Estate, built in 1933, provides social housing for a population of 2,203 people within the London Borough of Lewisham. The estate houses a diverse community with a wide spectrum of needs.
In 2005, an independant consultation commissioned by the London Borough of Lewisham, presented a snapshot of life within the Honor Oak estate. The consultation discovered that key problems on the estate included unemployment, drugs and crime. The unemployment rate was double the Borough average, with the estate housing a significant number of ex-offenders whose criminal records were proving a serious barrier to employment. Lack of education was also a problem with 30% of residents aged between 16 and 74 having no formal qualifications. As such, Mansell was asked to prove that its Corporate Responsibility mission statement was more than just a strap line.
In response, Mansell and the London Borough of Lewisham, along with local stakeholders, implemented a practical training programme utilising existing staff, offices and construction sites as educational resources. Training sessions were designed specifically to teach the key skills needed to obtain a CSCS card (Construction Skills Certificate Scheme) which is a recognised requirement to gain employment within the construction industry.
The scheme was publicised through leaflets and newsletters as well as through personal interaction with Samantha Dias, Honor Oak Neighbourhood Management Coordinator (herself a local resident), who visited and encouraged residents directly. Further, an open-door policy was operated at the construction site giving potential applicants the opportunity to meet site staff and be welcomed onto the scheme. Applicants details were passed to Rullion Alltrades (a specialist construction recruiter) who assessed the applicants and determined them either ready for employment or in need of further assistance or skills development. Where job ready applicants could not be placed with Mansell, other suitable placements were pursued.
Mansell's commitment to constructing communities is further demonstrated through their construction skills and careers events held regularly across the UK. Their 'taster tents' introduce construction to a wider spectrum of the community e.g. women, young offenders, black and ethnic minority and students with special needs. Mansell's approach is led by its Equal opportunities and Diversity policies, and is crucial in overcoming participants' negative views of the industry, giving them the motivation and confidence to continue.
