The West Bromwich Division of the award winning Hankinson Painting Group has been praised for investing in local people and offering training and employment opportunities to young people entering the jobs market.
The praise for the Hankinson Painting Group has come from Ed Cox, Sandwell Council’s “Think Local” training and employment officer.
He said “credit must go to Hankinsons for investing in local people despite operating in an industry feeling the pinch of a down turn. In taking on these trainees, it is encouraging to see a local Company supporting the Sandwell economy and recognising how it adds value to their business”.
We have always recruited locally and West Bromwich Chief Executive, David Rosser was approached by Think Local Construction and teamed up to explore training and employment opportunities for 16-18 year old apprentices and 19+ trainees.
David said “I have always been a supporter of Think Local. I think that all employers should make an effort to recruit from their local area. After all, there is a lot of potentially talented local labour just looking for the right opportunity”.
David added that he had been pleased with the calibre of candidates from the outset “I have met with all the trainees and I am very pleased with their eagerness to make the right impression. At the interview stage they were asked about their future aspirations and bar none, they had all set their sights high to progress within the Company. I think we have just secured some of our future managers”.
We are undeterred by the challenging economic climate and have therefore seized the opportunity to interview several candidates and bring in six new operatives from Sandwell to work towards gaining NVQ Level 2 qualifications in painting and decorating.
New starter Lee Bullas from Oldbury added “being 27 I quickly realised it would be hard to get an apprenticeship, but luckily enough I found Think Local who helped me find this job. I absolutely love it here at Hankinsons, it is such a great opportunity for me”.
The trainees are now studying at Future Skills Sandwell and Walsall College.
Martyn Cross, Luke Robertson, Lee Bullas, Ainsley Morris, Rhys Gibbs and Daniel Holloway are starting out on the road to become qualified painters and decorators and are being encouraged to make the most of their opportunity.
We are able to ensure we are well placed and are looking to 2010 with optimism.
Cabinet member for employment, skills and partnerships Cllr Ann Shackleton said “it is wonderful to see a local Company playing a major role in finding jobs for young people. They are setting the sort of example I would like to see other big firms follow”.
Following on from this, the Hankinson Painting Group have also recently received the 10 Year Award Certificate for being continually recognised as an Investors In People Organisation for ten years or more. Roy Hankinson Limited first achieved Investors in People on 19th September 1996.
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