Age: 20
Apprenticeship: Carpentry
Borough: Hackney
“From the get go I found the atmosphere on site welcoming and I enjoyed the work I was assigned. I felt accepted as part of the team and that my skills were improving on a daily basis.”
David Blyth
David had always shown an interest in construction and had some previous work experience assisting his Uncle on building sites. He had achieved a Level 1 in Wall and Floor Tiling. Following successful completion of the K10 recruitment process David secured an apprenticeship with us to pursue his ambition of becoming a qualified Carpenter.
‘From the get go I found the atmosphere on site welcoming and I enjoyed the work I was assigned. I felt accepted as part of the team and that my skills were improving on a daily basis. I have benefitted from working with different contractors and, as a result, my confidence and adaptability has grown. I now feel really comfortable to work in different environments’.
Age: 24
Apprenticeship: Plumbing
Borough: Brent
Through our partnership with Wates to deliver the Wates Apprenticeship Training Agency (WATA) in the South of England, Kieran was invited to attend the Building Futures course where local unemployed people learn construction skills in plumbing, tiling and carpentry. The 2 week course includes visits to several Wates sites which provides a realistic perspective on life in the construction industry.
Prior to joining K10 Kieran had been unemployed for 18 months and had no previous experience within the construction industry. He had worked as a stockroom assistant, a door to door salesman and had completed one year in labouring and logistics. He had 4 Cs at GCSE, his NVQ L 1 in plumbing and was an exam away from obtaining his C&G L2. Yet he struggled to obtain an apprenticeship to complete the practical part of his qualification. Kieran said “I had been trying to get an opportunity since December 2011, but I found that I came across a number of barriers like age and lack of projects in my local area due to the current economic climate.”
On successful completion of the course, K10 snapped Kieran up – his passion, dedication and work ethic were infectious. He was hosted by SFJ on Wates Crest Academy Site and maximised the opportunity that lay before him. SFJ were so impressed with Kieran that they employed him directly. He will now complete his apprenticeship with the contractor. Congratulations Kieran, we wish you all the very best for the future and am sure you will inspire many other young Londoners to keep persevering with their goals.
Age: 36
Apprenticeship: Plumbing
Borough: Hackney
“I know it’s an unusual career for a young woman but I really enjoy it. I recently undertook some repairs in a middle aged Sri Lankan ladies home on the Stamford Hill estate. She seemed both surprised and delighted that I was doing the work. I think because I am a young woman it put her at ease.”
Syma Khatun
Syma was one of the first K10 apprentices, and to this day continues to be an ambassador and friend.
She had always harbored a passion for DIY and plumbing since childhood, but did not think a career in the trade was viable and spent 15 years working in retail.
“I’d always enjoyed helping my brothers and sisters installing their kitchens and bathrooms and wished I could do it as a job. I just didn’t know how to make it happen.”
Syma’s enthusiasm and zest for life proved to surge into her work and college life. Hosted by Breyer Group for the 3 year duration of her apprenticeship they have subsequently employed her directly.
Syma has represented K10 on a number of occasions and has enjoyed the privilege of meeting HRH Prince of Wales and HRH The Duke of York.
Age: 20
Apprenticeship: Business Administration
Borough: Tower Hamlets
“The apprenticeship has been a great experience, not only in terms of the work skills and theory I have learned but all my friends, family and work colleagues have really noticed my increased confidence. I was really shy before I started but now I enjoy and join in with the banter of working life.”
Taahira Begum
Taahira was referred by her advisor at Poplar JCP to attend an employability course at Tower Hamlets College. The college was impressed with Taahira’s commitment and willingness to learn and on successful completion of the course suggested we consider her for a Business Administration Apprenticeship. Taahira became a ‘Legacy Apprentice’ and was hosted by BAM Nuttall on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. Taahira took responsibility for managing the Accreditation Centre, having to work in a fast paced and very busy environment with approximately 20,000 Visitor Passes having been issued.
“She has shown great Customer Service skills dealing with a wide range of people from general contractors through to the client and has a professional manner at all times. Taahira is quick to pick up new challenges and happy to be involved in different aspects of the Accreditation Centre in order to support her colleagues. Taahira is a punctual and extremely reliable member of the team, understanding the need to attend work promptly in order to set up for the day ahead. She has been a valued member of the team.”
Accreditation Centre Manager, BAM Nuttall – QEOP
As transformation works on the park come to completion simultaneously with Taahira completing her apprenticeship, K10 have recruited her to become part of the HQ team. Congratulations and well done – we are delighted to have you working with us.
Kenny Healey
Works Manager, BAM Nuttall Ltd
“In partnership with K10 we have been able to provide opportunities for over 30 construction operatives on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. I have seen the benefit of having bespoke pre-employment training. Apprentices came to site with an understanding of their framework and it enabled them to integrate into our existing workforce quickly becoming productive members of the team.”
Steve Coles
Managing Director, Intentionality Community Interest Company
“It was clear at my first meeting with K10, a number of years ago now, that they were deeply committed to putting positive social impact at the heart of their operations and business model. They were among the first social enterprises we worked with to embed measures of well-being into their day-to-day processes with applicants and apprentices, and since then they’ve expanded their impact measurement to include a wider range of stakeholders: partner colleges, major contractors, Housing Associations and Local Authorities. In 2013 K10 invited us to undertake a full Social Return on Investment (SROI) analysis of their operations, demonstrating a desire to listen to stakeholders, to learn and to lead to greater social impact. The conclusions of that SROI were compelling – not only does K10 generate a positive SROI, it does so by actually creating jobs for young people where none would have otherwise existed. The difference made by K10 in the lives of young people, particularly in a time of high youth unemployment, is incredible and the impact on society more broadly is considerable. I highly commend them”.
Roy Ramrutton
Community Development Manager, Breyer Group Plc.
“We started working in partnership with K10 in 2010. My aim was to secure the services of an ATA to complement Breyer Groups, 360 Degree Apprenticeship Programme (which was recently highly commended by National Apprenticeship Service, 2013).
Having seen first-hand, K10’s Pre-screening process I knew I would get a learner who was keen to learn, committed and dependable.
In addition to its Pre-screening service, K10 offer on-going support alongside the training and mentoring we provide.
We currently have several trade apprentices deployed on a number of our schemes and what is re-assuring is the knowledge that once a scheme has finished, REDS10 will find another host for the apprentice to ensure continuity for the learner.
A shining example of our successful and continued partnership is Syma Khatun who has achieved her NVQ Level 2 Apprenticeship in Plumbing and has since been employed directly by Breyer Group where she learnt her trade.
I recommend K10 to my colleagues, clients and counter parts because of their passion, commitment and outreach work – which means that we are able to target those who may not always get the same life chances as others.”
Paula Aldridge
National Community Investment Manager, Wates Group
“Wates initially engaged with K10 on a project where K10 were appointed by the client to provide an ATA to all of the contractors working across the project. As the individual responsible for apprentices across the Wates group it became apparent to me that this approach may be something that could support the business more broadly. We went through a tendering process to identify an ATA to work across the business in which K10 were successful in winning. We are now working in partnership across all of the Wates projects in London and the South East and have created a toolkit for the projects to make the process of engagement easier. The creation of the WATA (Wates Apprenticeship Training Agency) has allowed our project teams and supply chain to embrace the apprentice agenda on a larger scale and the process of ‘hosting ‘ an apprentice on our projects has become fully integrated within the teams.”
Alan Wood
Programme Manager, Croydon Economic Development Company
”Croydon Council has worked with K10 (formerly REDS10) on the Council’s Urban Regeneration Vehicle Partnership programme for over two years. K10 has provided an effective service for the creation of apprenticeships in the construction sector. By overcoming the challenge of the short term nature of sub-contractor contracts that make up main construction programmes, the K10 model has ensured that apprentices are successfully engaged and sustained.
The CCURV/K10 relationship has proved successful, such that the model will be applied to other Council capital schemes . On the 7 March 2014, Croydon Council signed a Service Level Agreement for K10 to provide apprenticeship support on future development schemes linked to the Council.
Croydon is on the brink of a major investment in the town centre, which will reshape and define the state of Croydon’s future in terms of economic growth, physical regeneration and community cohesion. It is anticipated that there will be significant apprenticeship opportunities. K10 will play a key role in securing those opportunities.“
Rob Bowley
Head of Employment, London Borough of Waltham Forest
“Waltham Forest Council has been working with K10 for a number of years and they have always delivered against difficult targets even in an economic downturn in recent years. Whilst ensuring that the young people on their programmes get the right support and guidance, K10 have also gone the extra mile in ensuring that they support Waltham Forest and its partners with their wider employment strategy. In the last year this has led to a 26% fall in unemployment claimant rates and a 32% fall in youth unemployment.”
Dennis Hone
Chief Executive, London Legacy Development Corporation
“The LLDC is committed to Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park creating job and apprenticeship opportunities and contributing to the regeneration of east London. In 2013 the LLDC were able to deliver the highest number of apprentices on a single site in London and our partnership with K10 was key to that success. With K10 we were able to provide contractors with a tailored and responsive delivery model that allowed for the creation of apprenticeship opportunities that would not otherwise have been delivered.”