Fusion21

Jobs created as South Liverpool project is hailed a success

South Liverpool Homes (SLH) has taken direct action to tackle worklessness in South Liverpool by recruiting 19 people to deliver an innovative fencing renewal programme. 

SLH’s Fencing Enterprise Team, which will deliver over 70 km of fencing to 3600 homes in Speke and Garston, has secured 6 years of work following a pilot earlier this year.

The establishment of the social enterprise demonstrates a commitment by SLH to create sustainable employment opportunities for the local community and to contribute to its social and economic well-being.  This is more important than ever at a time when jobs are scarce in the current economic climate. 
 
Liverpool’s Cabinet Member for Employment & Skills, Councillor Nick Small, and Councillor Mary Rasmussen visited the project last week to see how it was developing and to talk about other initiatives SLH are undertaking and supporting to tackle unemployment.

Councillor Small said “The work SLH are doing to create jobs in the Fencing Enterprise Team is fantastic.  Housing associations and local authorities should be working more closely together to tackle unemployment and help create job and enterprise opportunities throughout the city.”

The success of the initiative means 19 new jobs, including 4 apprenticeships, have been created as part of the Fencing Enterprise Team.  Jobs range from fencing operatives to site managers.  In addition to job creation the team is using local materials throughout the programme.  Over the past six months they have worked alongside local suppliers to build their capacity and knowledge of the trade so that they are well positioned to tender for the up coming material supply contracts.

Wayne Gales, Director of Operations at South Liverpool Homes said:  “This is fantastic news for the Fencing Enterprise Team as they have worked very hard to secure this contract.  Over the six month trial period they have proved their worth and generated real efficiencies for SLH, meaning we have more to reinvest in the neighbourhoods in which we work. Speke/Garston has significantly higher levels of worklessness compared to the Liverpool average and the fencing project is just one of many initiatives we are undertaking to maximise opportunities for local people to gain employment.”

Helping tenants to break down barriers to learning and gaining employment is a key part of SLH’s ethos. The company  working in collaboration with Fusion21 has recently given 23 long term unemployed people ‘real work’ experience through the Government’s Future Job Fund Initiative – 6 of those are now employed full-time at SLH.

Over the last 12 months SLH have helped 35 people into employment and a further 24 people into education/training through a project with Jobcentre Plus.  A member of staff from Job Centre Plus is seconded to SLH to help local people break through the employment barrier.  Clients are offered vocational training; help with interview skills and assistance with hidden costs of returning to work such as travel expenses and childcare costs.