North West - awards

The Renaissance Consortium is celebrating winning two national Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) Academy Awards for its apprentice scheme in Miles Platting, east Manchester.

In addition, the Miles Platting apprentice programme beat all the other award winners – including housing associations, regeneration organisations and developers – to take the overall Co-operative Award for Excellence at the awards ceremony held at the Roundhouse, north London.

Since its launch in August 2007, the Renaissance apprenticeship scheme has provided employment for 18 locally recruited trainees working on the Miles Platting housing regeneration scheme. The regeneration programme is being carried out by the Renaissance Consortium – which is made up of Lovell, Adactus Housing Association and Investors in the Community – on behalf of Manchester City Council and New East Manchester.

The HCA judging panel described the Miles Platting apprentice training programme as “as excellent project demonstrating an innovative approach to staff recruitment and training through the use of apprenticeships”.  Gill Taylor, chair of the judges, commented: “The particular success of this project was down to the intensive one-to-one support it offers the young apprentices; a model which offers considerable lessons for other projects.” The Co-operative Group, which chose the Miles Platting scheme for its excellence award, said Renaissance had “succeeded in going above and beyond its contractual obligations, resulting in a scheme that was having a demonstrable impact on the local community.” Sarah Klueter, senior community manager at the Co-operative Group, described the apprentice programme as “transforming the lives of young people in the area”. She stated: “The apprenticeship programme has an aspirational aspect, especially in a community where there is so much worklessness. Seeing young people doing well and growing in confidence is a really positive thing.”

Senior site manager John, 56, who works for Altrincham-based Lovell, has been chosen for a coveted Pride in the Job Quality Award by the NHBC (National House-Building Council).

The award is for John’s excellent management of The Way, the Lovell housing development at Beswick, east Manchester.  The accolade recognises the high standards of workmanship and quality at the development where Lovell is building a 550-home development of new homes for open market sale, shared ownership and affordable rent as part of a major regeneration project in partnership with New East Manchester and the local community.

John achieved the award following a rigorous assessment process by the NHBC. Judges visited the site and looked at all aspects of his management of the development, from the quality of the building work and health and safety on site, to John’s technical expertise, people management ability, customer care and commitment to excellence.

Sponsored by Green Week and Construction News, the inaugural Green Construction Awards in 2007 recognised those who demonstrate a commitment to the environment and environmental performance.

The annual Northwest Business Environment Awards, sponsored by the Mersey Basin Campaign and the Northwest Regional Development Agency, recognise those firms and organisations that enjoy success while also helping the environment.

Following rigorous tests by an independent adjudicating panel, Lovell in the North West was given the International Safety Award by the British Safety Council in 2006 for its sites at Westminster Gardens, Langley, Cobalt, Hawthorns and Beswick.