Category finalists

JOINT CATEGORY WINNER: Renaissance Consortium, a partnership between Adactus Housing Association, Lovell and Investors in the Community
The Renaissance Consortium has used a major housing regeneration scheme in Manchester as the springboard to a launch a successful apprenticeship scheme for new entrants into the construction industry. Now in its second year, the apprenticeship began life as a contractual obligation to ensure at least four trainees were on site at any one time. However, the scheme has far exceeeded this, with 18 apprentices so far signed up in its first 18 months.

JOINT CATEGORY WINNER: Family Mosaic
Family Mosaic, a social housing provider in Essex and London, dedicates a large part of its service to looking after vulnerable adults. One of its objectives is to help its services users improve their skills and confidence and, ultimately, find full time work. However, some service users are unable to persuade potential employers to give them a chance and find themselves excluded from the workplace. In the end, Family Mosaic decided it could employ them itself. It launched a trainee programme intended to a equip a selected group of existing service users with the necessary skills to work as care and support workers for the housing association.

Bolton Employer-Led Regeneration Training Initiative, University of Bolton
Housing association Bolton@Home formed a partnership with Bolton University and Community College to provide its staff and resident volunteers with training in regeneration and sustainability issues. The programme aims to improve regeneration practice by giving staff of varying educational backgrounds a better understanding of how to create sustainable communities.

National Skills Academy for Construction, Stanhope, Leadbitter Group
Construction firm Denne has set up a National Skills Academy for Construction as part of its work to regenerate the Stanhope estate in Ashford, Kent. The aim of the academy was to develop new skills among young people in the local community and also improve the skills of its existing workforce. The centre opened in 2007 and offers National Vocational Qualifications and bespoke training courses in construction skills.

Thames Valley Housing Training Centre, Thames Valley Housing Association, London
The social landlord Thames Valley Housing’s training centre was set up in 2001 to improve expertise among staff, residents and other housing bodies at a time when changing government agendas were demanding greater skill levels within the sector. It offers courses accredited by the Chartered Institute of Housing and City & Guilds in a range of housing related subjects, and has cut staff turnover in TCH from 34 to 10 per cent.