Business and education are inextricably linked – education gives the workforce of tomorrow the grounding it needs, and business can support it to do that in a variety of ways. At construction company FormFive, those vital links are at the heart of the company ethos.
Describing its role as being ‘from concept to completion,’ FormFive works with developers, project management companies, architects, investors and the wider supply chain, to carry out everything from the initial viability studies through design management to construction and handover.
In order to do that, and to continue to build a team that can deliver work to the standard for which the Northamptonshire-based company is renowned, FormFive has forged close links with the education sector. Junior Project Manager Elin Hurlock has been assigned as the firm’s Education Ambassador and part of her role is to liaise with schools and colleges to provide careers talks and advice, and to arrange work experience or placements for those looking to enter the construction business.
FormFive Managing Director Matthew Abraham said: “Having Elin as an ambassador is a commitment from this company to the education sector and bringing on the next generation of construction workers.
“Elin is in close contact with a number of schools including Moulton Secondary School and Booth Lane Campus at Northampton College, and we currently have a T Level student with us one day a week.
“There’s no double that you learn best from watching and listening to people who have been doing this job for years. When students work with our Site Manager, Tony Hewes, who is 78 and has been in construction for years and knows everything and everyone, what they take away from being with someone like him is something you are never going to get in a classroom.
“It’s vitally important that this industry passes on all our skills and knowledge, and construction companies need to commit to bringing students in and giving them that experience if they want the industry to progress
Construction is dependent on the next generation, and this generation has to help make it happen.”
Around 18 months ago, Matthew teamed up with Parm Bhangal from Bhangals Construction Consultants to set up Prop Connect, which organises networking events that bring together the property and construction sectors to help form strategic alliances and encourage the use of local firms rather than looking further afield.
The latest meeting was themed around education in the construction sector and building links with schools and colleges.
As someone whose company includes a number of primary and secondary schools among its clients, and who is a governor himself of Headlands Primary School in Northampton, it’s a theme that Matthew is passionate about.
“I lead a construction firm, and there are certain frustrations in finding out that projects right on our doorstep have gone to companies from outside the area because the authorities use a framework rather than looking locally,” said Matthew. “And it’s not just because we’re missing out on work, we work out of our area, too. Bu using local suppliers means you get teams that know the area, aren’t travelling miles every day to get to work, and care about their local community.
“And, as a governor, I understand all too well the financial pressure on schools. Many of them are close to breaking point in terms of budget. One teacher off sick and the cost of a replacement can wipe out any surplus they had, it’s literally that tight at times.
“Personally, I want to do as much as I can, as we can as a company, to help education.”
Recently, FormFive took a group of 30 children with special needs from Woodlands, Headlands School’s specialist provision for children with communication and interaction difficulties and autism, to watch a match at Northampton Town FC’s Tempeo Community Lounge.
The initiative has been created as a dedicated space at Sixfields Stadium to offer a welcoming environment for local charities and organisations to come together and enjoy matchdays. Facilitated by Tempeo Recruitment, each charity day is sponsored and run by a different local business.
Matthew said: “It was the most fantastic day, and the children all had an amazing time, watching football and enjoying hospitality in a safe, welcoming space. Sometimes, businesspeople can get a bit blasé about these invitations to watch football, cricket and rugby matches with hospitality thrown in, so it was heartwarming to see how thrilled the children were to be in that environment and see the fun they had.”
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