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PLUSinside• 45 Years of Community

Engagement

• Breaking Down Barriers

• Changing perceptions

• Supporting Communities

• 2016 and Beyond

MARCH 2016

CONTENTSMessages from Durkan CEO Robert Clark & Kevin O’Connor Head SR&I

45 Years of Community Engagement – The Story so Far

Getting Women Into Construction

Breaking Down Barriers

Where Are We Now? – Social value comes of age

Our Training Partners – Adding value through collaboration

Changing Perceptions – Engaging with schools and colleges

Supporting Communities – Building social cohesion

Where Are We Now? – 2016 and Beyond

For over 40 years Durkan has been making a difference to people’s lives in ways that go beyond providing quality homes. Since 1970 we have brought life-changing training and employment opportunities to some of the most disadvantaged communities in London, seeing beyond ‘barriers’ to recognise and liberate talent.

Just as importantly, we consistently worked hand-in-hand with our customers to help them develop their visions for sustainable communities. Whether re-opening defunct Youth Clubs, funding anti-gang activities, supporting social enterprises or partnering innovative self-build solutions for housing applicants – we have always taken our cue from communities themselves.

We are proud of our tradition of building community partnerships and we would like to share some of the milestones in our 45 year journey with our colleagues, clients and customers. We will then set the scene for where Durkan are now and showcase some recent achievements. Last but not least we will describe our plans to continue adding real value – and building lasting legacies – into 2016 and beyond.

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Head of Social Responsibility Kevin O’Connor As Head of Social Responsibility and Inclusion I am lucky enough to be able to work with communities all over London to help people develop the skills and confidence they need to build life-long careers – and play a full role in the life of their communities.

One of the real high points of my work is seeing how quickly people take control and map out their own futures when they are given the right opportunity at the right time. Give people a chance and they will surprise you.

This review is all about surprising you too – our Durkan colleagues, our client partners and the resident communities we work with. The difference Durkan and our partners make is not always trumpeted enough, and neither are the very real achievements of the people and communities we work with.

Hopefully this review will help put that right and shed a little light on some of great work going on out there.

MESSAGES from Durkan

Chief Executive Robert Clark Durkan have a proud 45 year tradition providing jobs, training and community investment alongside our construction projects. As Durkan have grown, so has the level of our involvement, and the diversity of ways in which we contribute. As we state further on, Social Value has now ‘come of age’, and Durkan are in no doubt that delivering Social Value must be a core element of a modern construction service.

After all, it makes sounds business sense. Durkan have always benefitted from a supply line of new talent emerging from our customer communities – both trades and professionals. In an industry that struggles to maintain a sustainable skills base this is an important ‘win’ for us.

In wider terms, Durkan understand that although we are a business, we are also a part of the community. When communities are strong, we all do well, both commercially and as a society. We are clear as a company that we will continue to respond to the needs of our clients and customer communities by delivering social value benefits in ways that are innovative, effective and inclusive. We now eagerly look forward to the next 45 years of community partnership!

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DURKAN + | 45 YEARS OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

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The Story so Far When Durkan started out in 1970 much of our work was with local authorities building, refurbishing and modernising Council Housing stock. This meant that from the start we were a contractor that worked hand-in-hand with resident communities.

Durkan always recognised the potential to draw on the talents of customer communities to provide the skilled labour we needed and we have consistently recruited locally sourced apprentices and trainees to build a sustainable workforce.

Apprentices and Professional Trainees Since 1970 we believe we have trained and employed over 1500 apprentices and professionals,

and we continue to maintain a 90% success rate in getting qualified trades into permanent employment.

Durkan have continually worked with diverse communities and we have experienced at first hand the talent and potential that can be unlocked when barriers to inclusion are removed.

45 YEARS of community engagement

At Durkan, the Board increased community investment during the recession and their consistent support ensures that Social Value remains a core element of our offer to our clients and communities – thank you.

We would also like to recognise the supply chain partners who host mentor, and employ our trainees, and contribute their time, labour, and financial resources to support Durkan. initiatives.

Finally, thank you to our Durkan colleagues, training partners and client teams. Your support and collaboration has been instrumental in helping us achieve excellent outcomes for communities.

THANKS

Did you know?• Durkan trained and employed

over 200 women trades during the life of the project

• We also provided mentoring and support for a number of women to set up in self-employment

• We were named as ‘Champion Employer’ by the former Commission

for Racial Equality for our work with them to remove barriers to inclusion

• Durkan are founder members of Be-Fair – the CITB delivered Equality and Diversity framework specifically developed for the construction industry

One of our proudest achievements was our drive to get more women involved in the industry. Beginning in 2000, we worked with Lambeth Council, Building Work for Women and later Women and manual Trades (WAMT) to build a sustainable ‘pipe line’ of women apprentices that continued for nearly 10 years.

GETTING WOMEN into construction

Did you know?For every £1 of public funding which is spent on apprenticeships, a sum of £21 in economic value is generated by them (CEBR 2014)

Below: WAMT trainees on site in Camden 2006.

Right: Durkan apprentices recruited through the Bosco Centre in Southwark – the centre worked exclusively with young people from challenging backgrounds

Right: The Durkan/Hexagon Housing partnership brought together client contractor and supply chain in a shared understanding of Equality and Diversity issues

Helping ‘Looked after Children’ into Higher EducationChildren in care are often faced with a lack of life chances – and this is reinforced by poor educational outcomes. Durkan established a bursary for children cared for by Hertfordshire County Council that provided financial support over 20 young people to make that challenging transition a little easier to manage.

Cricklewood Homeless Concern (Ashford Place) Durkan have a long-standing relationship with Ashford Place going back to 2004 when former Chairman Bill Durkan was instrumental in galvanising a group of London construction companies to save the organisation from closure – and building new purpose-built premises.

Durkan remain engaged with Ashford Place and regularly attend Opportunities Events that offer service users a chance to retrain for the industry.

Jason Lee HouseIn 2010 we built Jason Lee House and The Welcome Centre in Redbridge providing modern accommodation and re-integration service for homeless service users. We partnered Redbridge, Centrepoint and Ashford Place to deliver unique multi-partner skills and training events for service users.

• We were able to employ 10 service users both directly and with subcontractor partners

• Five service users were taken on as adult apprentices by training partner JBT

Just as importantly, we were able to demonstrate that ‘hard to reach’ doesn’t mean ‘unreachable’.

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Adding Value – Local Procurement and EmploymentDurkan work in communities that suffer from social deprivation, economic exclusion and worklessness. By subcontracting to local companies our clients’ investment is returned to local economies, supporting local businesses, encouraging sustainable communities and boosting local employment.

Durkan have a tradition of achieving excellent rates of local procurement and employment that have outperformed client requirements:

• RB Greenwich 2000-2010, £100m + S106 target 20%, achieved average 40% Durkan received ‘Local Employer of the Year’ award 2008

• Maidstone Housing Trust 2008, £10m Decent Homes Project Over 50% of the contract value was subcontracted to local suppliers – who supplied nearly 100% local labour

• Tower Hamlets Homes 2012, 25m Decent Homes Project Client targets 20% local procurement, achieved 41%

• Franklands Drive, Surrey 2013, £37m design and build Client target 20% local procurement, achieved 35%

BREAKING down barriers

Did you know?• Cared for children are

four times as likely to be permanently excluded from school? (10 times as likely in 2003)

• Only 7% of cared for children go into higher education? (1% in 2003)

Working with the Hardest to Reach CustomersSome of our best outcomes have been achieved working with the most hard to reach individuals. Behind tragic life events often lies the potential and talent to rebuild confidence and self-esteem and play a productive part in the life of the community.

Did you know?• For every £1 paid in wages

to a construction worker, 90pence is spent in the local economy

• For every £1 spent on construction, £2.84 is returned to the wider economy

Did you know?• In 2011 mental health conditions overtook

muscular/skeletal disorders as the most common cause of sustained absence from work.

• 70% of people with a common mental health problem such as depression – who are unemployed for over a year are not likely to ever work again

Above: Ian Duncan-Smith, Minister for Work and Pensions in conversation with a service user at the opening of Jason Lee House

Above: Durkan presenting 2006 Awards for outstanding achievement to Hertfordshire care leavers

Above: At Tower Hamlets we completed over a 1000 decent homes – and more than doubled our local procurement target bringing much needed employment to a diverse community with high rates of worklessness

“Durkan established a bursary for children cared for by Hertfordshire County Council”

Using the words of a customer: “I have a life now because I have a job! It has brought me out of my shell and given me spending power. It has brought me a stable home, friends and confidence to succeed in anything”Danny Maher, CEO Cricklewood Homeless Concern

Founder and former Chairman Bill Durkan

Durkan are working with a range of partners to remove these barriers by developing short traineeships that provide the essential elements required for progression into apprenticeship. Now, when the apprenticeship places come up – we will have the local candidates to fill them.

What is a traineeship?• 6-8 weeks duration• CSCS card and CITB Health

and Safety Training• Pre-employment skills – budgeting,

interview skills, self-esteem and work culture

• Introduction to construction trades – ‘taster’ of carpentry, bricklaying etc.

• 2 week site placement

At Northway House in Barnet, a £37m conversion and new build are partnering Barnet and Southgate College to deliver a traineeship programme targeted at disengaged NEETS. By combining our skills and resources we have been able to achieve some very promising outcomes. Our first group of trainees went through the programme in September 2015:

• 100% unemployed NEET cohort • 50% moved into apprenticeship/

employment • 50% moved into Diploma

level study

A second group of trainees was placed on site in February 2016.

We are now partnering Greenwich Labour and Business (GLLaB) to deliver their ‘Boot Camp’ traineeship scheme, and introducing traineeships at projects in Enfield, Southwark and Camden.

Traineeships – The Bridge to Sustainable Apprenticeships

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Creating Sustainable Skills ‘Pipelines’ Apprenticeships are the ‘Gold standard’ for new entrants to the industry – and the industry is crying out for new entrants. However, in many of the communities we work with we find people whose potential and enthusiasm is overshadowed by difficult life circumstances and poor education outcomes. Matching apprentice-ready candidates to time limited opportunities remains a real problem.

WHERE ARE WE NOW? Social value comes of age

Did you know?• By 2020 230,000 new entrants ( trades,

technical, admin and professions) will be required across the UK construction industry

• 19% (equivalent to 406,000 people) of the UK construction workers aged 55+ are set to retire in the next 5-10 years!

The Social Value Act 2012 has changed the landscape of community engagement. Durkan welcome the Act and we are working with clients, training partners and local stakeholders to create ‘joined up’ solutions that created genuine added value and long-term benefits for communities.

Below: Trainees on the Luma Project in Brent – all went on to secure apprenticeships

Management Training – Expanding opportunities and AmbitionsGetting into the construction professions has traditionally involved either working up ‘from the tools’ or achieving a degree. Financial hardship and a lack of industry contact networks can effectively ‘lock out’ under-represented groups.

To tackle this Durkan worked with our training partners to extend management training opportunities alongside traditional trades apprenticeships. We have trained over 10 new entrants in the past four years, taking on a number permanently including Hemant Patel, Naveed Hussain and Graham Oppong.

This policy has paid real dividends, giving us talented people who already know our company practices, culture and ethos, and helping us build a sustainable skills base.

Right: Naveed Hassen on site at Lisgar Terrace. Hemant was recruited as an apprentice but successfully made the transition to trainee manager

Evolve• Social Enterprise – all profits

reinvested in services• CITB/Circle Housing sponsored • Expertise in drawing down

funding and assuring training quality

Did you know?• Durkan/JBT apprentices

trained have reached the finals of YBUK ‘young builder of the Year Awards’ three times in four years: 2010 (winner) 2013, (3rd place), 2015 (runner up)

• Held at the House of Commons, the awards ‘promote(s) engagement with young people to combat social exclusion’

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Construction Training Initiative (CTI)• Social Enterprise – all profits

reinvested in services• 25 year partnership with Durkan• Pioneered community training

Did you know?• In 2015, At Cheviot

Gardens a £14m design and build care scheme (2016) CTI Achieved 100% permanent employment outcomes for trainees including 3 formerly NEET plumbing apprentices, an adult female electrician apprentice and Graham Oppong – management trainee permanently employed by Durkan

Whoare ourpartners?

Joe Brennan Training (JBT) • 20 year partnership with Durkan • SME/BAME owned and controlled

Top: At our Flaxen Road project in 2014 Joe Brennan (far right) helped us achieve 100% employment outcomes for the apprentices placed on the project – all of whom were East Thames residents

Above, clockwise from right: Omar Cillar – winner, receiving award from Rt Hon Nick Raynsford MP, Jermaine Stephens (final 3) with George Clarke and Nick R, Rebecca Russell, 2015 runner up with Sadie Khan and Baroness Smith of Basildon

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OUR TRAINING PARTNERS Adding value through collaboration

Durkan offer direct apprenticeship and management opportunities but we also work with a select group of training partners to deliver many of our training requirements. By working with the right partners we are able to:

• Maximise numbers of opportunities on offer

• Reach hard to reach groups through positive action recruitment

• Connect the traineeship/apprenticeship pipelines

• Quality assure training

Training Partner Core Agreement• All apprentices are supported

through to the end of their qualification

• All apprentices are paid the Living Wage

• All apprentices are mentored and supported

Right: Durkan continue to drive opportunities for new entrants – apprentices Louise Wiggins (f left), De’Andre Blake (finalist, Women in Housing Awards 2015, 2nd left) join Site Manager Kim Leahy and the rest of the team at Harkett Court, Harrow

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There is a problem with the way construction careers are perceived by young people – and more importantly by parents and schools themselves. Stereotypes about poor working conditions, danger and limited opportunities are still alive and well.

These misconceptions are damaging – they are partly behind the growing skills crisis in construction. Just as importantly – they stop talented young people from considering the vast range of satisfying, well paid career opportunities in our industry.

Durkan are working to tackle this problem by engaging directly with schools to ‘demystify’ construction and introduce students to the full range of trades, professional and technical careers on offer.

St Joseph’s College CroydonWe first met the team at St Joseph’s while building a £12m conversion project at Quest House in Croydon. Working in partnership with the CITB we have developed the basis of a long-term programme of engagement that will serve as a ‘best practice’ model for our work with other schools.

• Delivered CITB/British schools science association Crest Award (Bronze) 2015

• First Silver Award to be delivered July 2016

• Crest to be embedded in year 10 Design/technology syllabus 206/17 (180 participants)

• Applying for CITB ‘structured and flexible’ grant to help fund engagement

• Delivering multi-partner careers event May 2016 involving supply chain

• Building database of interest for apprenticeship and management training places

CHANGING PERCEPTIONS Engaging with schools and colleges

Left: ‘Catching them young’ – a delighted youngster joins in the fun at our construction workshop at Avonmore School West London

Right: No they’re not vandals! Under 5s help us ‘decorate’ our hoardings in Hornsey

Below: Year 4’ in Addlestone get a ‘hands on’ site tour

“The misconceptions stop talented

young people from considering the vast

range of satisfying, well paid career opportunities in

our industry.”

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Social Value is about more than training and employment – important though these are. Durkan are also taking on board the spirit of the Social Value Act to help communities find their own paths to sustainability and cohesion.

We are working directly with community groups and forming partnerships with local Social Enterprises to add value to our social and environmental offers. Working with local stakeholders is also helping us to target delivery to address real local needs and aspirations.

SUPPORTING COMMUNITIESBuilding social cohesion

Clapham Park Estate, 2007-2016 £70m regeneration ProjectBuild-It!• Worked with Social Enterprise Build-It funding

local trainees to re-fit and refurbish two Lambeth community hubs

• Volunteered Durkan Project Manager Kev Schofield to lead, supervise and mentor trainees

Harrow Planned Maintenance FrameworkMuch of our work with Harrow involves working with older and vulnerable residents. By engaging with local TRAs and community groups we have targeted our Social Value delivery in response to what they have told us are their priorities.

• Durkan/supply chain partnership has delivered three fully refurbished community facilities – including new fitted kitchens and appliances

• Sponsored and judged ‘Harrow in Bloom’ community garden scheme

• Sponsored Harrow’s Heroes volunteer awards, awarded team prize – and even laid on a pro bono ‘red carpet’ courtesy of supply chain partner Sees Flooring!

Estate Fun DaysDurkan supported 7 Summer Fun Days and Winter Fayres – in 2015 we were main sponsors providing:• Our own ‘Durkan sounds system’• subsidised ‘foods of the world’ – cooked by

estate residents• Access to training partner JBT who signed

up 4 apprentices for Lambeth projects

Above: Tower Hamlets District FC Under 12s got to compete in their first European tour courtesy of a £2000 cheque presented following our Site Manager at Tower Hamlets Decent Homes spotting an appeal in the local newspaper

Above: As a community contractor Durkan are privileged to work with voluntary organisations on many of our projects. We have ample first-hand experience of the immense social value of the work volunteers do, for no other reward than the satisfaction of helping others. We are therefore delighted to be able to support the awards and shine a little light on some of the tremendous work carried out by Harrow’s local heroes.

Community Gardening Projects• Engaged supply chain partners to provide security

gates, skips – and timber for raised beds for Fortrose Gardening Scheme

• Introduced Groundwork who were able to draw down £40,000 in external funding to develop an estate wide gardening project linked to horticultural training and healthy living

Looking to the future, Durkan intend to continue and expand our Partnerships with Social Enterprises. For example, Durkan and One Housing have partnered Social Enterprise GSP to re-open a Training Centre at Arlington House in Camden. GSP works with a range of associate social enterprises to match community need with partner expertise and funding capability.

This exciting venture is already underway, providing re-engagement courses for vulnerable former homeless residents at Arlington and has successfully trained a group of Bengali women in specialist decorative finishes. Two of these have recently formed their own company! In 2016, services will expand to provide energy awareness training for Durkan staff and project residents, traineeships in construction, catering, IT, care and customer services, and NVQ training up to level 4.

Working with social enterprises Mind and Druglink we have established a partnership that gives our staff access to safeguarding, Mental health, drug and alcohol awareness training – delivered by front line experts. And our investment goes straight back into providing vital services for vulnerable service users. We have established a partnership with Clarity Products, a social enterprise that manufactures toiletries and provides training, employment and support for disabled workers. Our first order of welcome packs will be presented to residents in Harrow in July as the start of what we hope will be a continuous business relationship.’

We are taking part in the Skills planner project an exciting new industry-led skills data platform: ‘Skills Planner enables a targeted and collaborative approach to employment and training planning via a user-friendly,

live and accessible skills data platform’ – think BIM for social value! As part of our goal of developing targeted, effective engagement with the next generation of construction trades and professionals we have signed up to Inspiring the Future. This initiative connects over 1,000 primary and three quarters of state secondary schools and colleges with over 26,000 volunteers. Our colleagues are pledging their time to meet young people and describe their journeys into construction. Our focus will be on providing input from volunteers who reflect the community backgrounds and life experiences of the students we will be engaging with.

By harnessing the expertise and resources of each associate we aim to develop truly ‘joined up’ Social Value programmes that reach all sections of the community, respond the needs of each individual learner where they are now – from completely disengaged to ‘job ready’, and offer each learner a progressive pathway that leads to a goal – not a dead end.

We hope you have enjoyed this review and found it informative. We can only highlight some of the Social Value work we have delivered and some of the excellent outcomes that have been achieved. This is the first of a series of regular half-yearly round ups that we plan to produce – so keep your eyes peeled for the next edition.

If you have any questions or observations you would like to make, or if you wish to discuss any aspect of social value further, please feel free to contact our Head of Social Responsibility Kevin O’Connor on 020 8619 9674 or email [email protected]

2016 AND BEYONDWhere are we going with Social Value?

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