Leading social housing contractor Kier Building Maintenance has won a prestigious Business in the Community (BITC) Award for helping thousands of teenagers across the Yorkshire region into work with its successful work experience programmes.

The repairs and maintenance organisation was presented with the Work Inspiration Award for delivering 19,000 work experience days over the past year across Leeds, Sheffield and Hull, including the successful City Stewardship programme.

The programme is one of Kier's most successful work experience schemes and has so far seen over 1,700 16 to 19-year-olds take part in projects to improve homes and gardens in their own communities.

Of these participants, 67 percent have gone on to positive destinations in training or employment but most importantly re-engaging.

Kier's commitment to providing meaningful workplace experience was highlighted by BITC assessors, in particular the target hardening initiative within the City Stewardship programme which involves local young people in providing a rapid response service to local residents who have experienced a burglary.

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The young people learn how to fit door and window security devices and smoke alarms, responding within 72 hours of a reported break-in. Most of the time they live in the area where the work is actually carried out.

BITC assessors commented: "This is a very innovative example of work inspiration. The approach is forward thinking and is an integral part of the company's strategy, embedded into the fabric of operations across the business.

"The programmes clearly impact people and their lives, which are demonstrated by the success stories of participants returning. This is most refreshing."

Judges also praised Kier’s work experience opportunities for inspiring young people and providing them with valuable skills, as well as responding to the needs of local businesses in the community.

Commenting on the award win, Simon Bullen, Regional Director of Kier Building Maintenance Yorkshire and East Midlands, said: "We are delighted to have been recognised for our work experience programmes.

"Kier believes that investing in the areas where it operates is essential to maximise the social and economic impact of its presence.

"Our work experience programmes aim to provide young people with valuable skills which will not only help them gain sustainable employment, but also fill skills gaps in the local economy."

The City Stewardship programme targets young people not in education, employment or training (NEETs), and those undertaking reparation orders through the Youth Offending Team. It also helps BTEC students at local further education colleges to gain useful skills, which will lead to sustainable employment.

Kier Building Maintenance also triumphed in the annual BITC Environment Index, which ranks organisations for the measures they've taken to reduce their carbon footprint.

Kier made a significant overall improvement of over 10% in this year's index through a variety of initiatives, including issuing drivers with personal digital assistants (PDAs) allowing them to receive instructions for their next job on the road, therefore reducing their carbon footprint.

(BMcC/GK)