Two hundred and fifty unemployed people will be given training and work through a major new job creation scheme launched today by the Berkeley Group.
Berkeley will create work for unemployed people such as tradesmen, architects and administrators. The jobs will be located across 70 sites in London and the south of England as well as with consultants and charities working with the Berkeley Group.
Rob Perrins, Managing Director of the Berkeley Group said: "Business, not government, needs to take the lead in delivering growth and tackling social need. This will double the size of our social investment programme."
Candidates will be selected by councils, charities, housing associations and agencies such as Young London Working. They will identify people who are ready to start work and Berkeley will provide a 12 month subsidy where necessary to create the jobs.
These will be new, paid roles within the Berkeley Group, with estate managers, with charities like Shelter, and with planning, design and legal consultancies involved in the development industry. Every role will include a training component if required and the funding will be additional to all Section 106 planning obligations and the company's existing apprenticeship policy.
Since the launch of the Berkeley Foundation in 2011, Berkeley has invested £2.8 million in over 40 charities, with staff raising over £550,000. Speaking tonight (27 June) at a fundraising gala, Rob Perrins will announce his aim to invest an additional £10m over the next 5 years.
He will say: "We can't just leave this to the public sector. In reality, most companies are not doing enough."
"There are some fantastic exceptions. But we all need to recognise how much has changed in the market since the recession and respond at a scale that will really make a difference."
The first job begins on 5 August at Woodberry Down in Hackney. Suleman Mirza, aged 20, will start work with Berkeley as a trainee manager. Suleman has come through the Street Elite programme, run by charity Cricket for Change and The Lords Taverners. He has never previously been in regular paid employment.
The Berkeley Foundation's latest annual report is published on 27 June. Advance copies, images and videos are available upon request. Please contact Rupal Parmar on 01932 868 555 or rupal.parmar@berkeleygroup.co.uk.
ENDS
Notes to editors:
• The Berkeley Group build homes and neighbourhoods. We focus on creating beautiful, successful places. We work together with other people to tackle the shortage of good quality homes, and we make a lasting contribution to the landscape and to the communities we help create.
• In 2012, the Berkeley Group sustained 16,000 jobs and generated £2.6 billion of economic activity in Britain.
• The Berkeley Group is publicly-owned and listed on the London Stock Exchange as a FTSE 250 company. It is made up for 5 autonomous companies: St George, St James, Berkeley, Berkeley First, and St Edward.
• The Berkeley Group was voted Britain's Most Admired Company across all industries in 2011 and has been ranked Britain's most sustainable major housebuilder for the last seven years in a row by the Next Generation benchmark.
• The Berkeley Foundation supports young people and their communities across London and the South of England through charitable donations and the talent and time of our staff.
• The Berkeley Group was voted Britain's Most Admired Company across all industries in 2011 as well as Housebuilder of the Year for the last two years, and has been ranked Britain's most sustainable major housebuilder for the last seven years by the Next Generation benchmark.
• The Berkeley Foundation supports young people and their communities across London and the South of England through charitable donations and the time and talent of our staff.
For all media enquiries contact Matt Bell, Group Head of External Affairs (matt.bell@berkeleygroup.co.uk) on 07825.196143.