Pictured above: Chair of Aspire Housing Richard Clark, with
Chief Executive Sinead Butters and Regional Minister Ian
Austin
The Aspire Group, based in North Staffordshire, has become one
of the first organisations in the country to be awarded the
prestigious Social Enterprise Mark.
The stamp of endorsement tells customers that a product or
service comes from a social enterprise, and is therefore creating a
social or environmental benefit.
It also allows organisations to demonstrate their commitment to
local communities through social enterprise and regeneration, and
differentiates them from other businesses.
The Aspire Group provides more than 20,000 customers with
quality affordable homes and services across North Staffordshire
and South Cheshire.
Committed to improving homes and neighbourhoods, and
transforming the life chances of local people, it consists of
Aspire Housing, PM Training and a soon-to-be-launched
charity.
PM Training, the largest social enterprise subsidiary of any UK
housing association, tackles worklessness by giving those with few
or no qualifications an alternative route into employment. It
became part of the Aspire Group in August 2008.
Both Aspire Housing and PM Training have been awarded the Social
Enterprise Mark.
Sinead Butters, Chief Executive of the Aspire Group, said: "We
are extremely proud and honoured to receive the Social Enterprise
Mark before it is rolled out nationally.
"We are keen to ensure that as a business we do all we can to
improve our customers' life chances, and those of everyone living
in North Staffordshire.
"Getting more young people into long-term employment benefits
them, and society as a whole."
Will Nixon, Chief Executive of PM Training, added: "For us it is
recognition that not only are we achieving our social goals, but as
a business we are the top training provider in Staffordshire for
enabling young people from disadvantaged areas to progress into
apprenticeships and employment."
PM Training has provided training and work placements for nearly
10,000 people since it was established in 1982.