Pictured above: Lee Overthrow, front, with, left to right,
Simon Lockett, Michael Vanencia, Paul Terry and Tony
Neason
Willmott Dixon Partnerships is investing in leadership training
in the Birmingham area to produce skilled managers and ensure top
quality service for local authorities' housing services and their
tenants.
The company has supported seven local supervisors to gain an
industry recognised qualification that will also help further their
careers.
They have all achieved a Level 2 certificate in Team Leading
from the Institute of Leadership and Management (ILM).
Paul Terry, Michael Venencia, Tony Neason, Lee Overthrow,
Stephen Chatterton, Danny Parsons and Simon James Lockett took part
in the training as a result of the company's partnership with the
Union of Construction, Allied Trades and Technicians (UCATT).
Candidates had previously successfully completed a nine month
course at Willmott Dixon's own 'Supervisors' Academy' to gain an
internally recognised qualification in team leading.
However, the company identified that they had no
industry-recognised formal qualifications to prove their level of
supervisory competency and was keen to ensure that their skills
were recognised.
Willmott Dixon Partnerships is currently working with Birmingham
City Council to repair and maintain 60,000 properties in the city.
It's two contracts for the north and south of the city includes the
areas of Edgbaston, Hall Green, Northfield, Selly Oak, Ladywood,
Erdington, Perry Bar and Sutton Coldfield. It aims to reduce the
cost of this service by £47m over the five year terms of the
two contracts.
Tony Neason, age 48 and from Birmingham, joined Willmott Dixon
as a carpenter three years ago when the company started work in the
north of the city.
He said: "I'd been a carpenter for 30 years when I joined
Willmott Dixon, but found myself taking on a supervisory role after
just one month. Whilst managing over the last three years I have
recently moved from carpentry to managing the plumbing team.
Although my strengths were with the carpentry team because I have
the trade background, with the supervision training I have received
I feel just as confident in new role. My manager encouraged me to
do the team leading qualification so that I would get some
recognition for it. The course was very useful and I wish I'd
thought about the opportunities for progression and done it much
sooner."
"Leading a team can be a challenge, but I love my role and being
able to relate to the team and help out with problems. When I was
working on site I always appreciated it when a manager had time to
listen or lend a hand, and it's great to be able to give something
back in the same way. I always try to review our way of working and
improve it for the benefit of the team and the company as
well."
Managing Director of Willmott Dixon Partnerships, Mick
Williamson, said: "Our company is committed to recruiting from the
local area wherever possible and leaving a lasting legacy in the
communities in which we work. Ensuring our team leaders have the
skills required to teach the next generation of tradesmen is vital
for the development of the individual and the long-term health of
our business. The better equipped our supervisors are, the more we
can guarantee that the level of quality we strive for is maintained
and passed down to the less experienced members of the team for the
benefit of our client and their customers."
Willmott Dixon Group is one of the UK's largest privately-owned
capital works, regeneration and support services companies.
With over 158 years of experience, the company provides services
within the built environment to Government, registered social
landlords, local authorities and private sector clients throughout
the UK.
Willmott Dixon Partnerships works with social housing landlords,
currently providing support services to over 120,000 homes, 1,200
public buildings and 50 commercial properties across the UK.