A refurbishment specialist has pledged to double the amount of people it takes on through its training and development pathway after hitting a £100,000 investment milestone in the programme.
Inco Contracts launched its Early Years’ Talent Scheme in 2020 to bridge a skills gap accelerated by the impact of Brexit by attracting, recruiting and fast tracking enthusiastic and high-performing individuals in the construction industry.
So far, the initiative has helped four people into jobs at the firm’s offices in Stafford, Stevenage and Warrington.
Operations Director Sam Norton said: “Our Early Years’ Talent Scheme has made a massive difference to our business and, as we look to embark on continued expansion, we believe the need to ‘grow our own’ will become even more important.
“We’ve just passed the £100,000 investment mark in the programme, but have already made the decision to inject even further funding into it, so that we can double the amount of people we are taking on through this pathway over the next two years.
“It’s a great opportunity for young people in Staffordshire, and indeed more mature workers looking for a switch of career, to join a forward-thinking company that offers quick career progression.”
Those on the scheme are appointed with a mentor to oversee their development and undergo quarterly training reviews to identify strengths and weaknesses.
Sam added: “The nature of the industry we work in has presented itself with more challenges than ever before, with Brexit having a huge impact on skilled workers across the UK, in particular blue-collar staff.
“Our Early Years’ Talent Scheme has given us an opportunity to bridge the skills gap, but also develop individuals with the unique skills sets needed to fulfil the contracts managers role in our business.
“This is made easier by having the opportunity to train and develop staff at an early stage of their career, so by the time they have completed the programme and training, they have the skills, mentorship, and confidence to undertake their roles. Importantly, they also live and breathe our culture.”
Inco Contracts, headquartered in Stafford, delivers hundreds of industrial and commercial refurbishment schemes across the UK every year.
Among those who have benefitted from the Eary Years’ Talent Scheme is Harry Merrick, who joined as a Trainee Contracts Manager and progressed to Assistant Contracts Manager in just 12 months.
He secured his Level 3 BTEC in Construction and the Built Environment, a host of sector-related qualifications and is currently studying at Birmingham City University for his HNC in Construction Management.
Harry, who hopes to become Contracts Manager in the future, said: “The scheme has given me a clear pathway for progression and over the last four years I’ve been continually improving due to the experience and knowledge sharing of my colleagues and the educational opportunities I’ve been given at college and now university – all funded by the company.
“I had a target to work towards from the very start, which is a huge motivating factor that has ultimately enabled me to gain promotion quickly. The support I received internally has ensured I have the knowledge, skills and behaviours required to progress even further.”
