Every year, each office elects a final-year management trainee to plan and deliver a community project, with just £500 seed money. Our trainees engage with local stakeholders and charity partners, galvanising our people and supply-chain partners to support.
Read more about what our trainee challenger Jack achieved…
Jack Hall, our management trainee from the North, transformed the Grosvenor Street Salvation Army building (home of The Works) to improve employment opportunities for people across Manchester city.
Thanks to the work of over 50 of our people, Manchester supply chain partners and customers, the renovated facility can house improve employment and training initiative, whilst also supporting the Salvation Army in delivering English classes and running a community café.
The refurbished building provides a new base for The Works to carry out their fantastic work in the city and helps the Salvation Army in their work to tackle modern slavery.
The project also helped three individuals with limited opportunities: Omid, a refugee, Ali, an asylum seeker and Ryan, an ex-offender, who was taken on through our ‘Prisoner Apprentice Pathway’ programme.
All participants had been supported by the Salvation Army in some way and gave back by mucking in during the renovation. In turn, they benefitted from the chance to gain skills to help them move forward.
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Despite unexpected asbestos causing a major delay to the project, Jack, alongside volunteers, worked tirelessly to deliver the refurbishment.
Kay Blues, commanding officer from The Salvation Army said:
"On my visits to the building, I observed Jack providing a high level of skill in the following areas: communication (from the shop floor to the board room), critical thinking… timekeeping, time management, negotiation and most impressively, leadership. However, most of all I feel Jack should be congratulated in his tenacity in getting the job done."
Steven Grant MBE, assistant director of Human Resources, The University of Manchester commented:
"This project will leave a lasting legacy impacting upon the lives of thousands of people for many years to come, and Jack and the team can be rightly proud of the contribution they have made to people across the city and beyond."
Special thanks to our supply chain partners who helped with this project:
Lucion Services, AEC, Wingates, Kenny Waste Management, Protec, Speedy Hire, Lee Brothers, Blok N Mesh, Dale Studios, WJ Structures, Range Roofing, Lewis Facilities, Rockfon, British Gypsum, SIG Interiors, Nevill Long, SLC Drylining, John Atkinson Interiors, Jewsons, Heckmondwike, Diamond Flooring, Duluz/Akzo Nobel, Broken Colour, Dortech Architectural, Fire Safe, Mayo Civils, Bailey Streetscence, Aston Services, SightSafe GB, Cavalier Studios, Ubu Environmental, Delta Laminates, Travis Perkins.
