MIGRANT WORKER CASE STUDY
KIER SHEFFIELD LLP
Employing a migrant workforce and promoting cultural awareness
Background
Kier Sheffield LLP is an award-winning partnership formed in 2003 between Kier Group and Sheffield City Council. It provides repairs and maintenance for the city’s 53,000 social housing, public and private buildings. It employs 1100 people in Sheffield. In 2008, Sheffield City Council was awarded three stars for exceeding the government’s Decent Homes standard.
Kier Sheffield has a strong commitment to supporting the vulnerable and disabled – whether this be tenants or its employees. In the community, this is manifested through its good neighbour policy of having a visible presence in the local community, by getting involved with tenants and residents associations, attending local events, and working with local schools to promote safety and awareness.
Recruitment & training
In the workplace, Kier is committed to offering equal recruitment and training opportunities to its entire workforce, whatever their background, and welcomes and embraces diversity. As part of Sheffield’s JOBMatch programme, Kier provided employment for 80 long-term unemployed.
Since March 2008, the company has collaborated with Business & Education South Yorkshire to offer ongoing vocational placements for French building apprentices as part of a European funded project.
Kier Sheffield also has a manufacturing unit, Sharrow Industries, which provides employment opportunities for disabled and disadvantaged individuals. Established in 1930, today, it is a vibrant, efficient, socially inclusive business turning over £15m per annum and employing 50 full-time employees supplying PVCu windows, composite doors and kitchen furniture for the Decent Homes programme.
Kier Sheffield is signed up to the Skills Pledge and encourages all employees to achieve a minimum level 2 qualification. At induction, employees’ specific needs are identified. For the benefit of non-English speaking employees, the company has incorporated translated materials into various publications issued to the workforce.
As part of its Diversity Policy, Kier has commissioned a bespoke version of Square Orange’s ‘Divercity’ game for use by all 1100 employees to raise awareness of cultural and religious differences and disability issues.
Case study: support for immigrant employee
Abu Turay, 28, was a refugee from Sierra Leone and fled his country in 2001 to seek asylum in England. Settling in Sheffield, and with sheer determination and endless visits to the jobcentre, Abu eventually got a place on the Construction JOBMatch scheme where he began his career journey as an apprentice Plumber in 2003.
With no previous qualifications and barely speaking a word of English, Abu completed his English and Maths NVQ attending Sheffield College once a week and spending four days a week at Kier Sheffield to gain his plumbing NVQ. Abu worked predominantly on the Decent Homes programme and completed his apprenticeship which included Key Skills, Technical Certificate and NVQ level 2.
Career progression
On completion, Abu was determined to further his education and technical qualifications. Continued guidance was provided by his mentor at Kier Sheffield, David Brownlow, and his team, who supported him in gaining his gas accreditation. In early 2009, Abu passed his Accredited Certification Scheme (ACS) which was the culmination of five year’s hard work and study.
Kier Sheffield heating, mechanical and electrical training manager, David Brownlow, and mentor to Abu comments:
“I am very proud of Abu’s success – one of the qualifications he has completed, the ACS CCN1 (gas safety), involves a very difficult and onerous assessment, even for established gas people – so for Abu to have attained it, is fantastic.”
Employee benefits
Abu comments:
“I have learnt and developed a lot since starting with Kier Sheffield. Kier have supported me from day one and for that I would like to thank everyone who has helped me throughout the whole experience.”
Training and development manager, Christine Wilson said:
“Working with all these individuals enriches and adds value to our diverse workforce. It is also beneficial in that it helps us gain a better understanding of working with our very varied customer/client base.”
 Picture of Abu Turay working at Kier, Sheffield. |
Regional Language Network Yorkshire & Humber is able to help companies source English language training for its employees as well as providers of foreign language training for workforce development programmes. Employers can access the RLNYH database, LANGUO – The Language Search Engine or contact Liz Littler .
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