CPA Bulletin

20 CPA Bulletin > May 2020 www.cpa.uk.net “Our primary focus is creating a livelihood for our trainees and nobody leaves the RMF Construction Training Academy without being ready for work. We’re not training people to pass a test - we’re getting them work and site ready and essentially training them to work on major projects. We’re not just giving our trainees tickets - which they could otherwise obtain within a few days on paid courses - we’re building up their confidence, whilst giving them practical experience. We continuously repeat activities and there is no rush to move them on. Courses such as CPCS are challenging and we give our trainees the time they need and make sure they feel comfortable,” he continued. The RMF Construction Training Academy relies upon employers to provide job opportunities for trainees who have completed the Fresh Start programme and companies such as Lynch Plant Hire, J. Murphy & Sons Limited (Murphy) and Flannery are all heavily involved. A huge backer of the initiative is Murphy. Back in 2014, the company was the first to employ an ex-offender through RMF as part of the company’s first prison cohort delivered inside HMP Hewell Grange. RMF currently has 32 ex-offenders working across a range of Murphy sites in multiple positions such as General Operatives, Banksmen, Plant Operators and Supervisors. Many of these operatives have been employed on major projects such as HS2. Their relationship with RMF means that the company can tailor their work environment to suit the needs of ex-offenders. Murphy manage candidates with respect and integrity, in line with the company’s ‘One Murphy’ values. Mark Spiers, Head of Recruitment at Murphy said: “Hiring ex-offenders has allowed us to meet our project deadlines and reduce our recruitment and training costs. We have found ex-offenders to be reliable and hard-working individuals. “Businesses need to embrace diverse recruitment strategies and step beyond traditional recruitment methods, especially within the construction sector. There is more support available than traditional recruitment avenues where fees are excessive and support for any potential employee is minimal. Working with ex-offenders has shown us that there is considerable wraparound support, there is robust training and development in the talent pipeline and individuals are capable and willing to work,” he continued. Lynch Plant Hire has also worked collaboratively with RMF, homelessness charity CRISIS and WMCA to provide job openings for the homeless. RMF and Lynch Plant Hire created a training to employment programme that tackles homelessness through training provided by RMF and employment through Lynch Plant Hire. All the learners, who are in temporary accommodation in Birmingham after becoming homeless, were referred by CRISIS to the WMCA’s innovative Construction Gateway programme. Following an intensive 10 week training programme at the RMF Construction Training Academy, five people have now secured jobs at Lynch Plant Hire and are working on major projects across the West Midlands, including the HS2 site at Curzon Street and at a Balfour Beatty site near Reading. It is estimated that the construction industry in the West Midlands needs 50,000 more trained staff by 2030, and this initiative has taken five people out of the vicious circle of homelessness and unemployment by giving them a new start in construction. Rob Lynch, Director of Lynch, said: “We work on very large public infrastructure projects and we believe it’s vital that local people from underprivileged backgrounds, like the homeless, have as many opportunities as possible to work on these amazing projects. “I was introduced to RMF through a working group for the WMCA about plant training and I immediately got the impression that RMF really care about where their candidates would be going to work. I was also impressed with the level of relationship that they have with their trainees. RMF provided us with 20 candidates to interview - we’d never had so many candidates to interview before - and Dara really stepped up to help us. He GATEWAY INTOCONSTRUCTION: 3