03/10/2024
Supplytrain CIC and Kier have been working together to provide pathways into the construction industry for aspiring tradespeople in East Sussex.
Kier is currently building a state-of-the-art 54-bed Mental Health Hospital in Bexhill. As part of this build, Kier has committed to supporting Rother Council’s Local Employment & Skills Plan – supporting entry-level positions and apprenticeships on site, through its contractors, in various trades such as bricklaying, drylining and flooring.
100 aspiring local tradespeople
Supplytrain CIC, a social enterprise focused on creating fairer routes into work, was tasked with recruiting to the scheme and leading an assessment centre that brought a diverse set of candidates keen to demonstrate their suitability for the roles.
The recruitment campaign was a great success with over 100 local people applying for the opportunity to work on site. Each person was offered an initial call to check the roles were suitable for them, before 25 candidates were invited to an interactive assessment centre on 1st October.
The assessment centre
23 out of 25 keen candidates arrived onsite at 7.30am to learn more about the site and prove themselves to the contractors.
Activities include:
- Early start – get to site on time with the right gear
- Ice breaker activities – getting on with people
- Site tour – see where your career can go
- Subcontractor talks – learn about each role
- Team ‘building’ – building giant tetrahedrons as a team (resources and prizes provided by GoConstruct)
- Speed interviews – pitch to subcontractors
Why assess this way?
Demi Faye, Recruitment Lead, at Supplytrain CIC, explains: “We run an assessment centre, rather than relying on CV and interview alone, to help our clients recruit for the essential skills they need from their workforce. In this case, the activities were designed to tease out applicants’ reliability, work ethic, teamwork, understanding of health and safety and communication skills – all attributes needed to be successful on site.
“The applicants also got to hear directly from each subcontractor offering jobs, giving them an understanding of what it takes to make it in the construction industry and a better understanding of where they want to specialise. This way of recruiting really does work. Several applicants have been offered jobs already and will soon start their careers on this amazing build!”
Kier’s point of view
Ed Dwight, Senior Project Manager, Kier Group, said “This partnership is about providing opportunities to help local people understand the variety of opportunities to work in construction and have the chance to access good jobs. The day was very well run by Supplytrain with a good standard of applicant. We’re really pleased to be involved, supporting Rother Council’s Local Employment and Skills Plan, and facilitating our supply chain’s access to fresh talent.”
Hear from a subcontractor
Megan Gardiner, Head of Procurement, Blade Flooring said: “We’re about to start work on the Combe Valley site, so having Supplytrain and Kier organise a day for us to meet local talent, see them physically working on a team-based task and interviewing them was extremely helpful.
“Supplytrain offered such stand out personnel that we are going to offer a full-time permanent trainee position to a candidate that I’m confident will be an excellent fit for our company. It really was a great day, well organised and made the interview and selection process effortless.”
Hear from an attendee
Connor Coleman, one of the attendees at the Assessment Centre said: “ I just wanted to say thank you Supplytrain for the opportunity to get my career going and being so helpful throughout the assessment centre. I was very nervous coming, but the way it was all organised was more than great, and I hope to be offered a start in construction by one of the subcontractors in the near future.”
Want more information?
For more information on:
- The Combe Valley Hospital build, visit Kier’s newsroom
- How Supplytrain CIC helps organisations to recruit and employ entry-level talent, email us
- Blade Flooring, visit www.bladeflooring.com
All images were taken in safe zones on site, where there was no requirement for PPE to be worn.
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