Hampshire County Council named its top Investors in Young People in an uplifting awards ceremony last night.
St Edward scooped the top prize, collecting a Gold Award for its engagement and employment initiatives across the county. The award recognises organisations that help school leavers to successfully transition from education to employment.
Judges said "We are delighted to recognise St Edward's commitment to investing in young people, resulting in a dedicated and enthusiastic workforce with the right skills to help the construction industry thrive"
With an ongoing careers programmes, team members regularly support local schools and colleges; from providing mock interviews to presentations on careers in construction.
New roles, including apprenticeships, are advertised locally and, with permission, CVs are shared with subcontractors, who provide fantastic support in hiring and training school leavers.
At Hartland Village in Fleet, the team worked with Hart District Council on their first ever Employment and Skills Plan, gaining them a highly valued accreditation from CITB. As part of this, they have supported Hampshire County Council's Construction Skills Funded courses, providing employment to seven young people and offering career guidance, work experience and apprenticeships to many more.
The company has made real efforts to raise awareness of career opportunities in construction, dedicating land at Hartland Village to be used a safe area for students to take part in taster days and training programmes. The area is also available to local colleges and the Hampshire Youth Offending team, whom St Edward is working with to develop bespoke programmes, helping to boost the confidence, social and employability skills of young people.
Hartland Village is less than a year into its 13 year lifespan which will see 1,500 new homes built, with a Village Centre, 70 acre Country Park and a bounty of green space for community events and leisure activities.