At Business in the Community’s Gala Dinner, held last night at the Royal Albert Hall, Esh Group together with project partner Deerness Valley Comprehensive School, won the prestigious ‘Innovation’ Award for their school leaver training scheme, “Fit for Employment”.  The scheme was also awarded ‘highly commended’ in the ‘Investing in Education’ category.  Over 1600 people representing businesses from across the UK attended the Gala Dinner to celebrate some of the most inspiring examples of good business practice across the UK and to honour those demonstrating the highest levels of excellence and greatest positive impact on individual communities and society in general.

Last month Esh Group and Deerness Valley School were awarded two prestigious Business in the Community “Big Tick” awards, at a regional event held at the Baltic, Gateshead.  ‘Big Ticks’ are an endorsement of the way a company organises and integrates their responsible business practice.  Following this success, ‘Fit for Employment’ was shortlisted for national recognition in both the ‘Innovation’ and ‘Investing in Education’ categories for their innovative and inspiring approach to recruiting, training and retaining youngsters in the construction industry.

“Fit for Employment” develops students’ employability skills, gives vital insights into the ‘world of work’ in general and the construction sector in particular and, uniquely, provides apprenticeships in permanent jobs for students successfully completing the programme.

Delivered during school years 10 and 11, the programme has this year admitted 120 students from five schools in County Durham: Deerness Valley Comprehensive School, Moorside Community School, Gilesgate Sports College, Fyndoune Community College and Trinity School.  Over the course of the year students are selected to participate through the three phases of the programme, each phase lasting one week.  Key employability skills are highlighted in the first week, the emphasis turns to the skills required and opportunities to be found in the construction sector in the second week and week three focuses on specific career paths.  To progress each student has to apply for and pass selection tests in order to embark on the next phase. 

Commenting on the programme, Phil Young, Group Director of Technical & Customer Services at Esh Group, said;

‘We are absolutely delighted to have won this award.  It is a real tribute to the efforts of a huge number of people working not only within Esh Group and Deerness Valley School but in all the other organisations who have supported this scheme.  And, of course, it is a great compliment to all the students who have taken part, especially those who are now in full time employment with us at Esh Group, training for their careers in the construction sector.

‘We know the special qualities of ‘Fit for Employment’ and it is tremendous that these have now been recognised at national level.  Some training and awareness schemes come and go and few offer that vital next step – full time employment at the end.  We believe this provides that special ingredient – a light at the end of the tunnel.’

Anne Lakey, Head Teacher at Deerness Valley Comprehensive School, continued;

‘Our students have been transformed through this programme, they have not only claimed ownership and are proud of it, but the programme carries real ‘street-credibility’.  Students who were aware of the full programme due to discussions around the School and with first year students saw the process as similar to ‘Pop Idol’ - people being eliminated as they came closer to the offer of a job with an apprenticeship.  That sort of ‘buy-in’ factor is very difficult for education or industry to capture – and this has inspired our students to achieve better exam results to secure their future!’

Deerness Valley School, the main source of students for the programme, has in the past been described by the DfES as a ‘school facing challenging circumstances’.  Historically students lacked aspiration, had low self-esteem and have under-achieved at GCSE level.  But earlier this year Deerness became one of the first specialist Business, Technology and Enterprise colleges in the country.  This status has been aided by the successes of the 'Fit for Employment' programme, which is an outstanding Business and Technology experience and the programme has continued to lead the change being witnessed at the School.

Biographies of Paul Facey and Kristi Taylor, two successful ‘Fit for Employment’ graduates 

• Paul graduated through the programme and is now a Trainee Engineer with Lumsden & Carroll, Esh Group’s civil engineering business.  From the outset Paul took an active part in the programme, with a hunger for information about construction and the opportunities on offer.  According to his teachers at Deerness this was in complete contrast to his earlier lack of performance in school.  Paul was performing well below the standard expected of him; he showed lack of application and some poor behaviour was emerging.  Paul’s teachers consistently commented that he should be achieving much more.  This promise materialised when Paul joined the first ‘Fit for Employment’ programme.  Following his participation on the scheme he became determined to make the grade.  Paul’s attendance rose to 99%, punctuality improved dramatically and he achieved the 6 higher grade passes at GCSE to ensure his future with Esh Group.

• Kristi’s disinterest in education was reversed when she joined ‘Fit for Employment’.  The enthusiasm and motivation which she developed during the programme has continued in her new role with Esh Group.  Kristi is a valuable member of the maintenance team that looks after the Group’s extensive fleet of vehicles, excavators and mobile construction plant.  Her ultimate aim is to challenge the female stereotype in the construction sector and become an excavator driver; a role she is expects to start training for when she passes her driving test.