Kier builds workforce of the future

Citation

(2009), "Kier builds workforce of the future", Industrial and Commercial Training, Vol. 41 No. 2. https://doi.org/10.1108/ict.2009.03741bab.008

Kier builds workforce of the future

Article Type: Notes and news From: Industrial and Commercial Training, Volume 41, Issue 2

Kier Building Maintenance (KBM) was overall winner of the most recent People Management award, for its training program aimed at improving the skills of young people and its own staff.

KBM staff supervised 16 to 18-year-olds in implementing assignments such as maintaining gardens, carrying out environmental work, improving security in homes and house repairs. The 26-week City Stewardship scheme sought to improve the prospects of young disaffected people by training and mentoring them on the assignments.

Jackie Orme, chief executive of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, which organized the awards, said: “This winning entry links the needs of young people considered to be at the fringes of society to the business needs at KBM. The program shows how corporate social responsibility can go hand in hand with the business objectives of an organization. By improving the skills of young disaffected people, KBM not only gave the participants a chance to play a more active role in society, but also managed to fulfil its recruitment and talent-development objectives.”

Two-thirds of the participants entered employment, mainstream education or training in the months after completing the program and 10 participants were also offered apprenticeships with KBM. The company also benefited by improving the skills of its staff in conducting good-practice training and mentoring, which in turn improved individual and team performance.