Introduction
At Sphere Solutions, we understand that recruitment is not just about filling positions; it’s about creating meaningful value that complements our core services. That’s why, in March 2020, we established our dedicated Social Value team to support our clients in enhancing their social value and corporate social responsibility initiatives. Leading this effort is our Social Value Manager, Robyn Marshall, who is ready to become an integral part of your team to help you achieve your social value KPIs.
Robyn has been a CITB Construction Ambassador since 2018 and recently became a STEM Ambassador. Robyn has over 6 years’ experience in delivering social value in communities in Wales and the West region.
Below we have outlined in more detail how Robyn can support your targets in areas such as recruiting ex-offenders, working with veterans, engaging with social enterprises, linking in with local schools and utilising training academies.
Recruiting and Developing Ex-offenders
Robyn and our team are at the forefront of our initiative to recruit ex-offenders, and we are currently collaborating with five prisons:
- HMP Eastwood Park
- HMP Bristol
- HMP Cardiff
- HMP Parc Prison - Bridgend
- HMP Prescoed Prison - Pontypool
At all the prisons we partner with, we have established employment hubs designed to support inmates in exploring job opportunities and developing the necessary skills for securing employment upon release. Our program engages with inmates 12 weeks prior to their release date, ensuring they have a clear plan for their future and the best possible chance of success.
Many inmates express an interest in becoming labourers or returning to the industry they worked in before imprisonment. Our employment hubs, staffed by experienced professionals, provide crucial support, including helping inmates prepare up-to-date CVs, conducting mock interviews, and assisting them in preparing for their Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) test.
Our team visits each site to meet with inmates, discuss available roles, pay rates, and work locations. We help them identify suitable job opportunities based on their skills and interests, and provide guidance on how to apply for these positions. Additionally, we assist inmates in developing essential soft skills such as teamwork, communication, and time management, which are critical for success in any job.
We diligently track the progress of each inmate we work with and maintain regular contact to offer ongoing support and encouragement. We leave our contact details with each individual to ensure they can easily reach out to us once they are released.
Working with Veterans
Sphere Solutions has always been passionate about working with veterans, with three members of our senior staff being veterans themselves. In June 2021, we signed the Armed Forces Covenant to further strengthen our commitment, and we have now engaged with Building Heroes to help facilitate employment opportunities for veterans.
Working in partnership with the South East Wales Onsite Construction Academy (OCA), veterans engaged with Building Heroes, are given the opportunity to complete a week’s training in health & saftey, asbestos awareness, fire marshal duties, abrasive wheels, and working at heights, culminating in their CSCS test. This comprehensive training week is fully funded by the CITB. Following the training, participants are required to complete a week’s work placement.
We are also collaborating with Greentask Force and Rewards Earth, veteran-run organisations that plant trees across the UK and overseas. Veterans gain horticultural qualifications while learning to plant trees, clear bracken, and maintain rivers and forests—work that is physically demanding and transferrable to roles such as groundworkers. Robyn is in early talks with veterans interested in transitioning to the construction industry after their experience with Greentask Force.
Training Academies
South East Wales On-Site Construction Academy (OCA)
The OCA works with job seekers, career changers, and those wishing to return to the industry by providing a week-long free construction training course that includes:
- Re-employment skills
- Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) certificates across a range of disciplines
- Health and Safety in a Construction Environment Level 1
- Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) card qualification
Robyn works very closely with the OCA, signposting individuals to the course, helping to secure work placements, and registering them on our database to facilitate their transition into paid employment.
The OCA has funding to deliver this training on-site and can utilise your meeting room to run the course. Conducting the training on-site allows participants to be fully immersed in the industry while learning. Robyn can organise these courses on our projects, with candidates completing their work placements on-site with your supply chain.
Training Academies
SWAPS (Sector-based Work Academy Programmes)
SWAPs provide jobseekers in England and Scotland, including those over 50, with the chance to gain new skills and experience in industries like care, construction, or warehouse work. These programmes, lasting up to six weeks, combine pre-employment vocational training from local colleges or training providers with practical work experience.
Participants will often receive a job interview with an employer in the relevant sector upon completion or assistance with job applications if an interview isn't possible. SWAPs are free, maintain benefit payments during participation, and may offer financial support for travel and childcare costs.
School Engagement
Promoting the construction industry to future generations has never been more crucial.
We are facing a real skills shortage, and it is vital to engage with students in primary and secondary schools about the diverse roles in the industry, potential earnings, and the various pathways to enter the field, whether through apprenticeships or degrees. Over the years, Robyn has spoken to thousands of students about the industry, both in-person and virtually during lockdown. She has also provided them with STEM activities and organized site visits.
The Careers & Enterprise Company
We support The Careers and Enterprise Company, the national body for careers education in England. Their mission is to guide students toward the best next steps for them, educating them on the various routes into the world of work, and highlighting apprenticeships, technical, and vocational pathways. We work closely with the CEC to promote careers within the construction industry, raising the aspirations of children facing barriers to employment.
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