The Summer Programme - Our commitment to Greater Manchester's young people
Greater Manchester is in our blood here at Mansell Building Solutions. The history, the music and football (especially the red half) are legendary across the world and we’re proud to be a part of the city’s past, present and future. But beyond the vibrant culture and sporting excellence, there’s a community brimming with potential.
As a specialist contractor, our mission extends beyond erecting and finishing buildings. We’re committed to sculpting a future for the city and its young minds. Social value is embedded into our business DNA and we're invested in fuelling a skilled workforce, fortifying the local community and amplifying the impact of charities and community initiatives.
This commitment was the driving force behind our summer programme for school leavers who require that little bit more help to transition from school to their post 16 provision. In total, our summer programme delivered 288 hours of invaluable work experience, which equates to over £36,000 of social value as determined by the national TOMs framework. Our fantastic team donated their time, both in planning and facilitating the training which, added to our costs for organising and delivering the programme, amounted to a donation of over £5,000.
Laying Foundations for Tomorrow
In partnership with Salford City Council and Connexions Salford, we rolled out a summer programme tailored for school leavers where they could come and work with parts of the Mansell team and get to grips with some of the work we do. The goal was to pave a transitional path for these young talents, ensuring they have the motivation and support to stride into college, training, or apprenticeships with confidence.
The programme catered to a vibrant mix of 10-12 aspiring individuals, including those with unique needs. Over a series of four engaging Wednesdays, they were introduced to the intricate world of construction.
The Four Wednesdays Breakdown:
1. Spray plastering at Terrix: Our young people didn't merely observe; they were thrown right into the mix (literally) at the Terrix training centre in Rochdale. They got hands-on with modern plastering techniques, a far-flung world away from what they thought plastering involved.
2. Soft skills with Mike Ode: The ever-inspirational Mike Ode from Potential Unearthed crafted a day dedicated to invaluable soft skills. From active listening and effective communication to developing resilience and understanding the weight of one’s reputation, these young people were given a toolkit for life, not just construction.
3. Panel plant experience: Mansell's head office didn’t just showcase steel frame building; it let these youngsters be a part of it. A day of hands-on learning, ensuring that when they left, they carried with them the pride of having created something.
4. Site visit in Salford: No summer programme would be complete without a real-world site visit. The group journeyed to a site in Salford, witnessing the construction of social housing, appreciating the intricacies of framing and finishing and engaging with recent trainee additions to the Mansell family.
Throughout this voyage the MBS team, including stalwarts like Pete Bownas, Paul Cooper, Nigel Stockton, Jimmy Clements and Rob Gallagher, played pivotal roles, ensuring the students always had a guiding hand to rely on. And let's not forget the logistical magicians, Catherine Thurston and Leanne Green, who took care of everything from transport and lunches to providing PPE.
The Outcome
How has the programme helped young people in Greater Manchester? We asked Cassandra Haskey, careers advisor at Connexions Salford for her reflections:
Three of the young people had EHCP plans and three had attended provisions other than mainstream school. Throughout the four weeks I saw amazing growth in the group and confidence levels increase but we saw the greatest growth in two young people.
One hadn’t been in school for three years and he attended every session and got involved with every session with support. He has now progressed successfully onto college.
With the other, although he was enrolled at a school for SEMH, he never attended and was tutored at home and attended a very small alternative provision. He also attended every Mansell session and by the end of the programme was talking and joking with everyone. On results day he told me that the group was brilliant, and he really enjoyed it all. He still has a way to go but this has been valuable experience, and a great first step for him.
The Bottom Line
At Mansell Building Solutions, we believe in nurturing ambitions and fostering talent so we’re thrilled to hear of the impact that this programme has had on the lives of young people in Greater Manchester. This summer initiative stands as a testament to our commitment to our local community’s social value. Through endeavours like these, we're not just building structures but crafting the very future of Greater Manchester's youth.
The next generation will one day be entrusted with the stewardship of Greater Manchester’s built environment, and we’re committed to helping them thrive.