Nine North East residents have secured apprenticeships or employment through a partnership between Thirteen, the largest housing association in the North East, and expanding local company, J Mac Scaffolding and Safety Systems.

As part of its social value commitment as a Thirteen contractor, J Mac partnered with Thirteen’s employability team to fill its apprenticeship vacancies and six Thirteen customers have been successful.

The Stockton-based company also approached Thirteen to support recruitment for a full-time administrator vacancy and has also employed two further job-seekers who have been working with Thirteen’s offender employment coordinator.

Karen Kenmare, Thirteen’s senior housing related support manager, said: “Thirteen invests extensively in supplier contracts and social value is a really important part of the tender process. Our work with J Mac is an excellent example of the process exceeding our ambitions.

“We work with some of the hardest to reach people in the region and being able to offer opportunities like this, with hands-on practical work experience and good career prospects, is invaluable to us and to our customers. J Mac has shown its commitment to supporting the local labour market and community.”

Thirteen is continuing to engage with the apprentices with six months of in-work support and is continuing to work with J Mac to identify future apprenticeship opportunities.

Luis McCarthy, managing director at J Mac said:

“We are delighted to be working with Thirteen’s Employability Team. They have already identified nine great candidates for us who are all now busy learning their trades. We are proud to offer a programme that really gives the trainees a proper understanding of our business as well as the importance of their role as the next generation of scaffolders. I think that ‘homegrown’ staff are great for us, because they are really committed and will help us continue to grow.”

Via: Business Up North