MITIE has recruited two female apprentices to its Milton Keynes office as part of a recruitment programme that aims to create a more sustainable and diverse workforce among its employees, and to provide a vehicle for succession planning.
Local residents Tara Green and Cindy Harding have recently started their plumbing and carpentry apprenticeships with MITIE after completing an Open College Network (OCN) course in Basic Introductory Construction and Building Skills, run by Women Builders and Oxford Women’s Training, part of Oxford & Cherwell Valley College.
The two women also undertook a week of work experience with MITIE earlier this year, and have since accepted apprenticeships with the company’s Property Services division after successfully completing the introductory course.
The apprenticeships will see them further their vocational training whilst gaining hands-on experience working on the company’s contract with Milton Keynes Council. MITIE signed its £25m, five year partnering agreement with the council last year, and is the sole provider of responsive repairs and void works for all 12,000 of the council’s homes.
Tara’s two-year apprenticeship involves spending one day per week at Moulton College in Northampton, where she is studying for an NVQ (level 2) in plumbing. Cindy’s apprenticeship is linked to an NVQ (level 2) in carpentry, which will require her to achieve specific targets for site-based projects that will be assessed by a tutor from Milton Keynes college. During their working week, the women accompany MITIE’s experienced plumbers and carpenters to tenants’ homes where they gain practical experience by carrying out a variety of repairs under the supervision of their colleagues.
Commenting on her apprenticeship, Cindy said: “Carpentry is very different from my previous office-based job. I decided on a career change last year: I’m delighted I made the switch and there’s nothing better than an apprenticeship for gaining knowledge of a trade. I’m learning various carpentry techniques as well as the names of the joins and how to use tools, and I’m treated no differently than my male colleagues in the team, which is great.”
Tara commented: “The support I’ve received in my new role has been tremendous, both from MITIE in helping me to fulfil my career aspirations, and from the tenants who appreciate having a female carry out their repairs. My days are spent fixing taps, removing toilet pans and replacing cisterns: I would recommend a trade-based apprenticeship to any girl who is prepared to roll her sleeves up.”
Phil Tovey, Partnering Manager for MITIE in Milton Keynes, commented: “As an equal opportunities employer, we’re keen to encourage women into the trades to help to address the current shortfall that construction companies across the UK are experiencing. We were very impressed by the level of understanding and commitment that Tara and Cindy demonstrated during their work experience, so we were delighted to be able to offer them apprenticeships that will equip them with practical experience as well as a recognised qualification.”
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For further information, contact:
David Revis, Investor Relations and PR Manager, MITIE Group PLC
T: 020 7034 7306, M: 07979 702465, E: david.revis@mitie.co.uk
Donna Fooks-Bale, Communications Manager, MITIE Property Services (UK) Ltd
T: 01454 275880, M: 07920 298127, E: donna.fooks-bale@mitie.co.uk
For general information about the company’s activities please visit:
www.mitiepropertyservices.co.uk
www.mitie.co.uk
Notes for editors:
About MITIE
Delivering quality services to our customers has made MITIE one of the UK’s leading support services companies, delivering Facilities, Engineering and Property Services.
MITIE motivates people to deliver successfully; we employ more than 44,000 people, making us one of the largest employers in the UK. We ensure our 6,500 public and private sector clients are satisfied with their service delivery by recruiting and retaining the best people. MITIE’s unique share ownership ethos ‘Management Incentive Through Investment Equity’ (MITIE) encourages our employees to focus on delivering what our customers want.
MITIE provides all of the Facilities Services that organisations may wish to outsource including Catering, Cleaning, Document Management, Front of House Services, Energy Services, Engineering Maintenance, Facilities Management, Landscaping, Grounds Maintenance, Pest Control, Security and Waste and Environmental Services. MITIE also offers Engineering and Property Services, improving buildings for its customers by providing Building Refurbishment, Fit-Out and Maintenance Services, together with Mechanical & Electrical Engineering.
Our success in delivering sustainable growth, through responsible and proactive engagement with stakeholders, has enabled us to become a FTSE 250 company achieving annual revenues of over £1.2bn, with a national coverage that delivers locally.