Our pledge and our achievements 2012-2013

Flying HighAirport Group delivering on employment and skills

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13 like minded housing associations175,000 social homesHousing 400,000 peopleOne common goal

The Airport Group is an informal alliance of 13 like-minded, stock transfer housing associations that are committed to working in collaboration on issues of common interest. Together we manage 175,000 social homes across the North West and Pennine regions, home to over 400,000 people, giving the Group unparalleled knowledge of residents’ aspirations. From Liverpool to Bradford and from Preston to Chester the Airport Group operates over nearly 2,000 square miles, providing homes and support services for people; helping some who are the most vulnerable members of our communities. The Airport Group is an illustration of social value in action.

Since 2009 we have worked together to deliver employment and skills opportunities for residents to help transform the areas where we work. This document provides an independent analysis of our achievements in 2012/13 and also takes a look at the how we have progressed towards our planned outcomes since 2009-10. It demonstrates how we generate significant economic returns by creating jobs, encouraging enterprise and offering employment and training opportunities.

We believe that we lead the housing sector through our employment, enterprise and skills activities as well as our work with young people: delivering over 1,000 apprenticeships and encouraging young entrepreneurs. We illustrate this through case studies and the personal stories of people we’ve worked with and examples of how we collaborate to deliver local solutions in every square mile in which we operate.

About the Airport Group

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Contents

Part 1: Introduction and overview

1. Our Offer and Ask

2. How we can deliver for you

3. Our Pledge: Our achievements 2012 to 2013

4. Collaborating to achieve more

Part 2: Our work in 2012/13

1. Encouraging employment and enterprise

2. Helping people become more employable

3. Working with young people

4. Joining up front-line housing and employment services

4820

6178

1240013400

14646

11586

6061

7888

12758

21573

10824

188007936

LEEDS

Huddersfield

SHEFFIELD

GREATERMANCHESTER

LIVERPOOL

Halifax

Bury

Wigan

Warrington

Northwich Macclesfield

BlackburnPreston

Blackpool

Sefton

Bradford

Airport Group HousingMembers Stock City West Housing Trust Salford (West) 14614

Community Gateway Association Preston 6104

Eastland Homes 7936Greater Manchester

Helena Partnerships St Helens, Merseyside 12814

Incommunities Bradford 21573

New Charter Housing Group Tameside, Oldham in Greater Manchester/Gelding in Nottinghamshire, Stockport 18800

One Vision Housing Sefton, Merseyside 11586

Peaks & Plains Housing Trust Macclesfield and Surrounds 4820

Together Housing Group Across North of England 36409

Trafford Housing Trust Trafford 9264

Weaver Vale Housing Trust West Cheshire, Towns of Northwich, Winsford and Frodsham 6178

Wirral Partnership Homes Wirral, Wallasey, Birkenhead and surrounds 12156

Wythenshawe Community Group Wythenshawe, South Manchester 13500

Core Cities

9264

5% to 7%

9% to 11%

7% to 9%

Over 12%

Worklessness Levels

As of October 2012

8307

1373

3259

1093

3665

Wirral

Pendle

Rossendale

Special Thanks

The Flying High document was written by Helen Cope Consulting Ltd for the Airport Group

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Our pledge and our achievements 2012-2013

Part 1: Our story and our offer

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Getting people into work, encouraging enterprise and self-employment, reducing youth unemployment along with increasing community resilience are all top national priorities along with achieving greater social value from procurement. Since 2009, as shown by this document, the Airport Group has collaborated to achieve just this in the areas where we work.

We continue to demonstrate that when the Government asks, we deliver:

• Our return to the Nation through our employment and skills work in 2012-13 alone amounts to some £31.6 million (Box 1)

• We are innovative

• We do what we say we will

• We make investment pay not least through maximising the social value of our contracts by delivering employment and training for local people

Scale, local knowledge, tight geographical operation, close relationships with local authorities, civic society organisations and Jobcentre Plus all mean that the Airport Group can bring economic as well as social returns. Collaboration enables us to build on successful schemes. We use our procurement power to create jobs and not just in traditional construction trades.

We offer

People: Unprecedented access, established relationship, knowledge of tenant base from audits, widely known local brands, reach into wider neighbourhoods around our owned property base.

Working with others: Long term relationships with LA and JCP and other local partners

Finance: Financial autonomy and potential to raise social finance against high value asset base

Management: Capacity to manage large financial contracts, have a central strategic team,

Shared aim:to help people back into work, which is good for our business, good for people and good for the nation.

1. Our offer and ask

Box 1: Our return to the Nation - £31.6 millionResearch shows that every young person moved from being NEET returns £50,056 per young person (through savings on annual productivity lost, annual job seeker allowance and long term wage penalty). In 2012 -2013 taking just the 315 apprenticeships supported by the Airport Group, our return to the Nation amounts to over £15.7 million. Similarly, it has been found that a minimum of £9,854 per person is saved for every person entering employment (savings on annual benefits and annual productivity gain). In 2012-13 taking just those unemployed people that we have helped directly into work (757) the return to the Nation amounts to some £7.5 million. A further 850 individuals have also moved into full or part-time work through our advice services returning a further £8.4 million.

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2. How we can deliver for you

Whether you are concerned with adult or youth employment, with enterprise or preparing school children for the world of work, we can work with you. We ask that you consider our record in delivering employment, enterprise and skills opportunities as set out in this document and contact us to see how we can work with you and take this work forward in future.

Our achievements are mostly funded through our own resources. Please consider how much more we could do for you with additional funding.

Please contact: Vivien Simon, Chair, Airport Employment and Skills Group

Vivien SimonHead of EnterpriseCity West Housing TrustCentenary House, 1 Centenary Way,Eccles M50 1RF(0161 605 7521)email: viv.simon@citywest.org.uk

Are you: In 2012-13 alone

Thinking of how to deliver more apprentices?

We’ve created our 1000th apprenticeship: we are supporting 5 apprentices for every 100 members of staff; this is almost five times the national average across all business.

Exploring youth employment? We’ve helped over 6,000 young people through other (non-procurement related) specific projects relating to employment, employability, enterprise and skills.

About to fund and encourage enterprise? We’ve assisted 420 people with ‘work for yourself’ and business start up projects.

Developing or extending your advisory service?

We’ve signposted over 9,000 residents to specific advice and agencies that assist with employment and skills needs.

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3. Our pledge and our achievements 2012-2013

Headlines

We have worked to a published Pledge since 2010. This document provides an independent examination of our progress and reports on our achievements. It also sets out our record to date in relation to:

• Encouraging employment and enterprise

• Helping people become more employable

• Working with young people

• Joining up front-line housing and employment services

The Pledge – Contracts Awarded

Members will work on the principle of 1 permanent new job, either directly or with our contractors, per £1million of contracts awarded. Members will work on the principle of 1 year of work based training provided per £1million of contract awarded.

Our achievements include:

• 107 permanent jobs created

• 229 people getting 1 year’s training

• 240 people have achieved formal qualifications

• 490 people have attended a short work- related course

• 171 new construction apprenticeships and a further 77 existing apprenticeships safeguarded through our collective procurement

The Pledge – Placements

Members will work on the principle of providing a minimum of 4 work placements per annum per 100 full time staff (target 242). Members will provide a range of placement opportunities to meet the needs of the community. Placements will be targeted to young people wherever possible to minimise the impact of reduced opportunities for this group. Our achievements include:

• 709 work placements completed: 3 times our target

• 540 of these placements are for young people (under 25)

The Pledge – Entry-level Jobs

Members are committed to the principle of creating entry level jobs that are accessible to our customers and residents. Our achievements include:

• 230 residents employed in entry level jobs

• 144 directly employed non-construction apprentices

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Our story to date – delivering social value

‘If £1 is spent on the delivery of services, can that same £1 be used to also produce a wider benefit to the community?’

The Public Services (Social Value Act) Act 2012 requires all public bodies in England and Wales, including housing associations to consider how the services they commission and procure might improve the economic, social and environmental well-being of the area(s) where they operate. The Act is based on the principle that ‘If £1 is spent on the delivery of services, can that same £1 be used to also produce a wider benefit to the community?’ Since 2008 (and individually for many years before) the Airport Group has committed to using its considerable procurement power to promote the provision of jobs, placements and training for residents including young people.

Making a difference: Our cumulative impact since our collaboration began

• We have just employed our 1,000th apprentice

• We have delivered 144 directly employed non-construction apprentices

• Ensured that 230 entry level jobs went to residents

• Since 2010-11 the number of people we help each year through services which assist people to access advice and guidance on employment and skills has grown to nearly 10,000 per annum in 2012-13.

• Activity around employability and skills for adults has trebled.

• The number of young people assisted each year through projects addressing employment and enterprise need has quadrupled from 1,500 in 2010-11 to over 6,000 in 2012-13 reflecting a commitment to addressing youth unemployment.

7000

6000

5000

4000

3000

2000

1000

0

No. of people helped 2010-11 No. of people helped 2011-12 No. of people helped 2012-13

4. Collaborating to achieve more

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Some collaborative approaches

Since commencing delivery of our first action plan in 2009-10 we have:

Front line services

• Adopted a shared standard for information, signposting and referral,

• Trained front-line staff in employment and skills advise

• Published a booklet for use across the group to advise residents; and

• Began to develop standard approaches to customer profiling and mentoring

Employment and enterprise

• Signing of the agreed pledge by all member chief executives committing the group to specific targets launched in 2010 around apprenticeships, placements and entry level jobs

• Developed specific links with Work Programme Contractors

Employability

• Developed and implemented a group wide pilot for Active Learning for Residents (ALfR) offering a CIH approved award

• Now have 35 employability projects assisting residents into work which helped 3,200 people in the last year alone

Young People

• Set a target for apprenticeships and have now delivered 144 non-construction apprenticeships in addition to our 1,000 construction apprenticeships

• Delivered 240 Future Job Fund posts

• Are developing an Airport Group standard for work placements;

• Hosted an annual event to celebrate the success of young people in work and training opportunities – Young Flyers

• Developed a group wide enterprise competition for young people – Young Starship Enterprise have engaged 2,250 young people and 37 local schools

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Our pledge and our achievements 2012-2013

Part 2: Our work in 2012/13

1. Encouraging employment and enterprise

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Working against a backdrop of continued economic austerity combined with welfare reform means that supporting adults into work has never been more important or challenging. Our residents live in some of the country’s unemployment hotspots and are often the most disadvantaged when it comes to skills and experience. As well as supporting residents into work through our Pledge by creating permanent jobs and training opportunities through our collective procurement, placements and entry level jobs programmes, we work ceaselessly to deliver other opportunities through directly funded projects including those that encourage enterprise. In 2012-13 we directly delivered:

• 64 employment and enterprise projects assisting over 4,400 people

Almost half of our activity is about getting people into work through running work clubs and employability projects that are local and accessible where residents are assisted with job applications, interview techniques and other basic skills. More and more people are seeking to become self employed and over a quarter of our activity has been about supporting enterprise including business start ups and self-employment.

• In 2012-13 over 420 people were assisted with ‘work for yourself’ and business start up projects. (See Chart )

36%

15%14%

14%

9%

8%

5%5%

36%

15%14%

14%

9%

8%

5%5%

Employment and Enterprise, Adults, Projects by type (Q1-4)

Work Clubs

Business Start-up/new Enterprise Created

Employability Projects

Qualifications for Employment

ILM

Work for Yourself

Other

Job Search/Future Jobs Fund

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Case StudiesDon’t keep it under your hat!!

‘Don’t keep it under your hat’ is City West housing Trust’s Entrepreneur Programme. Single dad Scott, 31, has set up his own business thanks to help from City West’s Enterprise Team which offers support to customers to start their own businesses including help with business plans, identifying key contacts and access to finance. Scott who is raising his two-year old son, had worked as a swimming pool engineer for 11 years, but, with expensive child care costs, was unable to combine long days at work with being a full-time dad.

Scott now owns his own waste disposal company that enables him to set his own hours and work around the needs of his son and his family. “I’d spent two years out of work and living on benefits so I was dying to get back,” explained Scott. “The job market was bleak and I couldn’t do a ‘nine-to-five’ and be around to care for a baby as I couldn’t afford child care. I had an idea for my own waste disposal business and wanted to give it a go. I didn’t know where to start but I spoke to City West and they’ve helped me get a business plan together and get things off the ground.”

Scott adds, “There’s no way I could have got to the stage I am without the Enterprise Team at City West. They’ve made such a big difference to my life.”

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“There’s no way I could have got to the stage I am without the Enterprise Team at City West. They’ve made such a big difference to my life.”Single dad Scott

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Case StudiesEnterprising women

The Enterprise Centre opened in August 2011 as a hub of activity for the development of business enterprise, aimed at small businesses and budding entrepreneurs. The Centre is the most recent phase of Wythenshawe Community Housing Group’s (formally Willow Park) award-winning Enterprise Support Project. Highly commended nationally and the 2010 regional winner of the North-West ‘Enterprising Britain’ competition, the project has helped nearly 200 businesses to start in Wythenshawe since it began in 2005. The Willow Park initiative has had a massive impact in changing the lives of people within the local area with 58% of businesses set-up by people previously unemployed and has created over 237 jobs and assisted in the development of the local economy.

A group of local women celebrated successfully completing the ‘Women in Business’ training programme in 2012. This marked the eleventh successful programme of free weekly workshops, run for women by women at the Centre. Centre Manager Phil Duffield says: “With the government now encouraging women to get into business the Centre acts as an ideal hub for the development, training and promotion of enterprise opportunities for businesses and the local community.”

Susan Gordon who has just completed the programme says, “The course has inspired me and helped me to stay motivated with my new venture.” Fellow entrepreneur Suzanne Jackson who is in the early stages of setting up a fashion and accessorises business says, “I have gained loads of confidence.” Julie Sykes agrees: “The course covered everything and I am planning to start-up in April having and have already done my advertising for the opening.”

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“I have gained loads of confidence. The course covered everything and I am planning to start-up in April having and have already done my advertising for the opening.”Julie Sykes

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Open Field is a specialist service provided by Incommunities that deals with employment, enterprise, training and skills needs.

Usman’s Story

Usman approached Open Field in 2012 as he was struggling to find a regular part time job to go alongside his studies. He was working in various bars in Bradford which did not provide a steady income. He had applied for various part time roles from retail to care work but was unsuccessful. He had also applied for university and been rejected. Since Open Field started working with Usman he has transformed his future. He has employment and works full time providing care for adults with disabilities and health care needs. He is also attending college to gain his English and Maths Qualifications in order to apply for the course he wants to do at university.

Samantha’ story

Samantha, a single Mum managed to keep her job after the Future Jobs Fund ended but eventually was facing redundancy. She struggles to work and care for with her teenage son who is disabled. This had affected her self-esteem. Incommunities employment and skills staff have worked with her for some time offering interview techniques, for example. Since her first engagement, she has come a long way and has achieved her PTTLS Level 4 (Preparing to Teach in the Life Long Skills Sector) and Information Advice and Guidance, (IAG) Level 3 qualification. She is developing her CV now whilst working with the employment broker service as an outreach employability advisor. She has also received help from the financial inclusion service

Case StudiesFresh starts at Incommunities

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Together Housing has been working in partnership with Calderdale Jobcentre Plus (JCP). Through this they jointly fund an Outreach Employment Advisor (Tina) to work directly with tenants in the community. This enables Together Housing to offer a range of services in partnership with JCP, community organisations, training providers and the local authority. The Employment Outreach Service offers one to one and group sessions in community locations and two weekly work clubs. Over 356 people have been seen this year already with over 100 still being assisted and 60 people supported into work. Many of these customers had not worked for some time and have multiple barriers to employment.

Tenant ‘A’ had been out of work for 12 years on a bereavement benefit. As he had not worked for some time employers were reluctant to take him on. Tina supported the customer with a new CV and also helped with online applications and cover letters as he had never had to apply for work in this way and only had basic IT knowledge. Tina managed to get him a place on a sector based work academy where he carried out 2 weeks training at college followed by 2 weeks work experience with the company. At the end he was guaranteed an interview with the company. As expected, an employer has snapped him up.

Mrs B, 56, had been on sickness related benefit for 5 years and Jobseekers Allowance for 6 months. She has multiple disabilities and was struggling to find work due to this. With help in making her applications including her CV and how to discuss her disabilities with prospective employers she was recently successful in obtaining work at a nursing home within walking distance of her home.

Tina recently received a call from one of her clients thanking her for support as he is now starting work following a 5 year gap. “I want you to take full credit for getting me back into work as you have done more for me than anyone else in the last 5 years” he said.

Case Studies Helping long term unemployed people into work

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“I want you to take full credit for getting me back into work as you have done more for me than anyone else in the last 5 years”A grateful client

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2. Helping people become more employable

The Airport Group continues to support adults into work through employability and skills initiatives. We are currently helping to implement the Government’s Work Programme, which helps those who are long term unemployed back into employment. We aim to work with clients individually to tackle their personal barriers to finding work. We are working in partnership with a number of organisations and local services including Work Programme Prime and Sub-Contractors and want to do more.

• In 2012-13 we directly delivered 174 projects assisting residents into work which assisted over 7,300 people (see Chart).

All the projects help to build confidence whether through volunteering or assistance with basic skills including language and literacy or developing IT skills. The majority of skills courses offer recognised accreditation strengthening residents’ offers to potential employers.

22%

16%

13%10%

10%

9%

7%

6%7%

Education and SkillsAdults, Number of Projects by Type (Q1-4)

Capacity Building Training

Volunteering Schemes

Adult Education - Formal and Informal

Education & Skills

Other

Arts & Theatre Initiatives

IT Learning Initiatives

Parenting Support

Language & Literacy Support

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Enhancing skills in Greater Manchester

City West’s Skills Programme was launched in September 2009. Working with its contract partners it ensures that for every £1 million invested in its area, one new job is created with training provided to NVQ Level 2 or equivalent. Since inception over 180 jobs have been created.

City West has also developed partnerships with Work Programme contractors Avanta and G4S and their sub-contractors Work Solutions who are currently supporting unemployed people in Salford and Greater Manchester to secure and sustain employment. During a two week training programme with City West, trainees receive a number of recognised qualifications including:

• Completion of a City and Guilds Level 1 in Employability

• Emergency First Aid at Work Certificate

• Chartered Institute of Environmental Health level 2 certificate in the principles of Manual Handling

• Constructors Skills Certification Scheme card

Josh Fisher, 16, from Little Hulton said: “It was great to get a place on the Skills Programme which has helped me get my qualifications and be ready for a full time job and career. I’ve learnt a lot and been given a great opportunity so I can’t wait to get started in a new job.”

Winner of the 2010 and 2011 Women In Construction Awards, City West is also committed to encouraging women into work and around one third of all people taking part over the past three years have been being women.

Work Programme in Cheshire

Weaver Vale Housing Trust is part of the Avanta supply chain, delivering the Work Programme in the Northwich and Winsford areas of Cheshire. It delivers the Work Programme with the aim of supporting residents to access the support they need to help them remove their barriers into work. They identify their needs and run a twice-weekly Employment Focus Group, where customers who are able, can search and apply for jobs with support and guidance from Work Support Mentors to help them focus on applying for the right jobs for them. The Work Programme is run on a pay by results model, with the primary funding from the Department of Work and Pensions.

Shaun’s story

Shaun joined the Work Programme in September 2012. Having left school with low level qualifications, Shaun had not been able to find any employment, and except for a mandatory work placement at a local community centre and had not had any experience of the working world. He struggled with basic skills, wasn’t confident on the computer and didn’t enjoy being in group situations or a classroom environment. With personalised support Shaun worked with mentors to build an action plan of everything he needs to do to achieve his goal of becoming a gardener. He says, “The Work Programme has made me more confident. When I first started, I wouldn’t ring up for a job as I wasn’t very confident on the phone, but now I am able to speak to employers on the phone. The help I have had has mad a big difference to me.”

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3. Working with young people

In 2012-13 the Airport Group supported young people into work through:

• Delivering 144 non-construction apprenticeships, 206 apprenticeships delivered through our procurement

• 541 placements including 217 for under 16s

• 35 projects supporting youth employment and enterprise

• 72 projects supporting education and skills opportunities

• Assisting 1,043 young people through employability training

• Assisting 2,788 young people with language and literacy

• Offering citizenship training to over 2,118 young people

• Our first youth enterprise competition

• Our Young Flyer’s Awards which are now in their third year and recognise the contributions made by young people to their community or to personal development through an apprenticeship or learning and through enterprise

Apprenticeships

In 2009 we pledged to support 1 apprenticeship for every 100 staff employed. By 2011 we were already supporting almost 5 apprentices for every 100 members of staff; this is almost five times the national average across all business. Furthermore, our apprentices are drawn from our communities. In just two years we have increased our non-construction housing and business apprenticeships from 50 to 144. In 2012, we employed our 1000th apprentice. This year we have also delivered a further 206 apprenticeships through our collective procurement.

Working with schools

The Airport Group works very closely with its local schools. This ranges from New Charter’s sponsorship of its local Academy and Wythenshawe Community Housing Group’s involvement in schools attendance projects to the engagement of 30 local schools in our Enterprise Competition. We have also offered breakfast and afterschool club places for over 1,300 youngsters.

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The Apprentice 2012– Trafford style!

Innovative use of social media ensured that Trafford Housing Trust (THT) reached young people when it established its Apprentice 2012 initiative. A demanding process for the chosen 10 included mentored tasks and the end of each task was marked by a ‘Boardroom Session’ at which the candidates - supported by the mentors - faced the Chief Executive. However, unlike the TV show, no candidates were fired! Instead each candidate was given tailored support and constructive advice, and the opportunity to apply for a paid two-year apprenticeship with THT.

The project was funded by THT with involvement from partner organisations including Connexions, Challenge for Change, Trafford Council Education Department, Trafford College, Training By Design, UK Youth, Salford City Reds Rugby League Club and Panda Media.

The outcomes of Apprentice 2012 include:

• All 10 young people gained not only an eye- catching addition to their CV, but also official accreditations (Basic Food Hygiene Level 2 NVQ and a Personal Achievement Award)

• 7 candidates have started two-year apprenticeships in roles encompassing Regeneration, Communications, IT, Money Support and Community Engagement

• 1 candidate has joined THT in a permanent role as an administrator in its Customer Hub. Amy says, “I applied for THT’s Apprentice 2012 programme after seeing it advertised, and after a 3-week process I was fortunate enough to be one of the 7 young people taken on for a 2 year apprenticeship. I especially enjoy working with the Youth Team to deliver projects. Half a day a week I go to college to study towards a Youth Worker Level 3 qualification. I have gained so much experience. If I didn’t have this apprenticeship I would have struggled to get into a job in my chosen field as I had no relevant work experience. My advice to anybody that is considering their options is to look for a company which is offering an apprenticeship in an area that interests you - it will open many paths for your future”

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Social value through non-construction apprenticeships

The Airport Group is offering apprenticeships across the board not just in the traditional area of construction. After leaving St Peter’s RC high School in July 2011, Dillon was set to go on to college, but changed his mind when he heard about the apprenticeships at Eastlands Homes. The opportunity to gain work experience and earn money along side studying for a qualification was too good to miss. As a finance officer, Dillon is involved in debt collection, processing invoices and payments, supplier and bank reconciliations alongside more finance related tasks. As part of his apprenticeship he will be studying for AAT accounting qualifications too.

Dillon says, ‘Being an apprentice with Eastlands Homes is great. The staff are friendly, you are treated equally and given all the support you need with your job and your studies. I work in the office for 4 and half days a week, and go to college 1 afternoon a week. If I have any college work to do at home or need to revise for exams I am given the time out of my daily job role to do so. My apprenticeship means a lot to me. It is a great opportunity and I know that it will help me to achieve my future aim of becoming an accountant.’

34%

31%

26%

9%

Employment and EnterpriseYoung PeopleNumber of Projects by Type (Q1-4)

Employability

Capacity Building training for young residents including citizenship

Youth Enterprise

Other

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“Being an apprentice with Eastlands Homes is great.”Dillon

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Case Studies Andrew’s Story

Constructing the Future Lancashire (CtFL) helps apprentices complete their full apprenticeship. It has been developed in partnership with CSkills, the sector skills council for the construction industry, Lancashire Housing Partnership and Regenerate Pennine Lancashire. CtFL helps apprentices find suitable contractors who are willing to provide on-site experience which will enable them to gather the necessary evidence to fully complete their apprenticeship.

Andrew, a Community Gateway Association resident, had been out of work for 18 months. In his own words he was ‘dooming in his own gloom’! He commenced a 26 week construction programme but after only 11 weeks, was offered an apprenticeship. Andrew started as an apprentice bricklayer with CtFL and is now working on a Gateway development. He says, “I’ve been working since October and I’m just more focused now, I feel a whole lot better. I‘m lucky that I’m working with Terry who has 40 years’ experience, he spends loads of time with me showing me how to do things.” As for Andrew’s future after he’s qualified he wants to go to Australia and work around the world and eventually set up his own business.

Award winning apprenticeships

One Vision works with Sovini Group which was established in December 2011, with a view to bringing together likeminded organisations that can work in partnership to support each other. It operates as a ‘federated structure’, with two distinct areas of focus commercial and Not-for-Profit. The Group aims to make a positive impact not just on housing, but on employment and training; health and wellbeing; crime and community safety; education and recreation.

Having made a commitment to establish apprenticeships in 2012, recruitment was a huge success, attracting over 800 applications. The Group took on 7 trade apprentices and 5 office based apprentices covering a range of apprenticeships in Business Administration, Housing, Joinery, Plumbing, Electrical, and Gas Plumbing. Since then:

• An Apprentice Electrician, Michael, a resident of One Vision has been named the Best Building Apprentice in the North West in the Federation of Master Builder’s (FMB) awards 2013

• A female Apprentice Plumber has been chosen by her college to represent them at the HIP Plumbing competition at Harrogate College in February

• One Vision has taken on a Business Administration Apprentice in the permanent post of Governance Support Officer

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Getting young people on the ‘Right Track’

The Right Track Programme is a partnership between Wirral Partnership Homes and Hype Merseyside. The programme uses sports coaching techniques to help young people move into employment and training by finding the “right track” for them. A 20 week course takes participants through a bespoke programme of formal and informal training based on their identified needs and goals. As well as identifying where participants want to get to, the course considers any hurdles that the participant might need to overcome to achieve their goal. In addition to pre-employment training that is at the core of Right Track, participants are able to study for formal qualifications in the informal setting of Right Track through Hype’s relationship with a local college. By the end of November 2012, 39 young people had taken part in Right Track. Of these 9 had left the programme to return to formal education, 10 were in paid employment and 6 had formed a voluntary group to develop and deliver a youth activity to gain more experience in their chosen fields.

Training Young People with Great Opportunities

Lee Wilson, 24, from Ashton-under-Lyne was one of the first young people to start an eight week voluntary work placement with New Charter. The work placements are part of the Great Opportunities programme which comprises coordinated actions and activities which focus on New Charter neighbourhoods and tackling worklessness. New Charter is also working with Job Centre Plus to offer a range of placements aimed at 18 - 25 year olds in various sections of the organisation including Regeneration, Green Charter (Environment) and legal administration.

Lee started his journey to secure paid employment in May 2012 working with the New Charter caretaking team after seeing an advertisement in his local Job Centre offering a work placement opportunity with the caretaking division of New Charter. Throughout his time with New Charter, Lee has learned practical skills while on the job, to give him a quality work experience. After 6 weeks of volunteering Lee applied for a paid position within the team. He was supported by New Charter with interview technique coaching. After a successful application and interview process, Lee was secured a part-time paid position and is now moving off out of work benefits and is better able to support his young family. Lee says, ‘Hopefully, with more experience, this will open up other opportunities to gain permanent work in and around Ashton-under-Lyne.”

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We don’t do bored!

Peaks & Plains Housing Trust works with young people and supports a range of community partnerships. “iMacclesfield Youth Club (iMacc:YC) was not even in existence eight months ago”, says Anthony Allen, Chairman of IMacc:YC. Disappointed to hear that all the youth clubs in Macclesfield had closed, whilse trying to find provision for his own son, he set about changing this situation and aimed to open up a new youth club for 11-16 year olds within one year. He achieved this in eight months with support from Peaks & Plains.

Peaks & Plains has strong links with key community stakeholders such as the Police – a vital component in running a successful yet secure and safe youth club for both members and volunteers. It also offered financial support and ongoing guidance and was able to introduce Mr Allen to individuals and organisations that enabled the opening of iMacc:YC to be fast-tracked. Through the Youth Federation, which became the Club’s umbrella organisation and landlord, help was available to prepare necessary policies and procedures and all the necessary start-up processes.

Within two weeks of opening, iMacc:YC boasted a membership in excess of 45 with average attendance per night of 25 and growing plus a roster of 20 volunteers. At this rate, it is on target to provide quality, affordable entertainment to around 80-100 young people each week. Mr Allen says, “as a father of three with a full time job, setting up iMacc:YC wasn’t always plain sailing and without Peaks & Plains support, this simply would not have been possible”.

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“As a father of three with a full time job, setting up iMacc:YC wasn’t always plain sailing and without Peaks & Plains support, this simply would not have been possible”.Mr Allen

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4. Joining up front-line housing and employment services

The Airport Group is committed to helping residents into work by joining up its housing and employment services at the front line. We have collaborated to develop our advice, information and guidance approaches by adopting a shared standard for information, signposting and referral. We have trained our front-line staff to a consistent standard and are collaborating with others on outreach services. We think this work is part of our core business and have recruited ‘Champions’ from each organisation to take this work forward under the banner “Everybody’s Job”.

In 2012-13 the Airport Group has delivered:

• 48 projects to signpost and advise residents (See Chart)

• 9,500 residents have been signposted to advice

• 3,060 residents have been referred to a specific agency

• Nearly 877 residents have moved into training

• 857 residents have gained full or part time work.

40%

27%

25%

6%2%

Front line ServicesProjects by Type %2012-2013

In-House IAG Service Provided

Staff Training

Signposting to Local Information Advice & Guidance Services

Delivering Enhanced Housing Options Services

Other

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Case StudiesRenewed opportunities in St Helens

The Re:New Outreach Workers employed by Helena Housing are embedded in the local community. The team is vital to engaging with hard to reach residents and is working on the front line providing information, advice and guidance to those seeking work or learning opportunities. The outreach workers have been recruited from the local Neighbourhood Management areas so have personal understanding of the issues residents face on a daily basis. The team can refer individuals to a number of agencies and work closely with St Helens Council and St Helens Chamber (of Commerce) and Starting Point. Starting Point is a key information, advice, guidance and assessment centre supporting the people of St Helens who are looking for employment and/or learning opportunities.

The service was funded through a St Helens council contract with the European Social Fund.

It engages with residents that are economically inactive (claiming ESA) and those that are unemployed (claiming JSA) So far almost 500 local residents have been engaged and signposted for further Information, Advice and Guidance. Gary’s barrier to employment was the length

of time he had been out of work – over 4 years. With a background in warehousing, he had been actively seeking work within a superstore but felt that being unemployed for numerous years and a lack of maths, English and computer skills would all act against him. The outreach worker referred Gary to the National Careers Service. He then attended a work club and was helped with his CV and application form and to improve his interview techniques. Through the support of the outreach team Gary has now been employed part time by the Co-op and is also waiting for confirmation of at job Tesco.

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Our pledge and our achievements 2012-2013

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Ian MunroChief ExecutiveNew Charter Housing Trust249 Cavendish StreetAshton-under-LyneOL6 7AT

Roy WilliamsChief ExecutiveOne Vision HousingAtlantic House, Atlantic Way,Dunnings Bridge RoadBootle, MerseysideL30 4TH

Tim PinderChief ExecutivePeaks and PlainsHousing TrustRopewalksNewton StreetMacclesfield SK11 6QJ

Tom MiskellChief ExecutiveTogether Housing GroupBull Green HouseBull Green, HalifaxWest Yorkshire HX1 2EB

Matthew GardinerChief ExecutiveTrafford Housing TrustSale Point126-150 Washway RoadSale M33 6AG

Steve JenningsChief ExecutiveWeaver Vale Housing TrustGadbrook Point, Rudheath WayGadbrook ParkNorthwichCheshire CW9 7LL

Nigel WilsonChief ExecutiveWythenshawe Community Housing GroupWythenshawe House8, Poundswick LaneWythenshawe, Manchester M22 9TA

Brian SimpsonChief ExecutiveWirral Partnership Homes6 Europa BoulevardBirkenheadWirral CH41 4PE

Contacts

Tim DoyleChief ExecutiveCity West Housing TrustCentenary House - 4th floor1 Centenary WayEccles M50 1RF

Diane BellingerChief ExecutiveCommunity GatewayAssociationDeltic House, West Strand,Preston PR1 8UY

Sheila DoranChief ExecutiveEastlands Homes PartnershipEastlands House,Victoria Street, OpenshawManchester M11 2NX

Rob YoungChief ExecutiveHelena Partnerships4 Corporation StreetSt HelensMerseyside WA9 1LD

Geraldine HowleyChief ExecutiveIncommunitiesThe QuaysVictoria StreetShipley BD17 7BN

www.theairportgroup.co.uk

@YFAwards