Track record of getting people into workplaces

Out-of-work graduates, young people looking for a trade and jobless social tenants are all being helped into work by Incommunities.

The district’s biggest landlord, which looks after 21,000 homes, has a three-pronged approach to job creation.

A graduate scheme offers placements to people who have struggled to find work after leaving university. Around 80 per cent are given jobs at the end of the scheme.

It has an apprenticeship scheme for people wanting to learn a trade such as plumbing or joinery. More than 100 apprentices have been taken on over the life of the scheme so far.

And it also helps jobless tenants start their own businesses or access training to get them back into work.

Chief executive Geraldine Howley accepted the award.

Afterwards, she thanked both her staff and Bradford Council for helping Incommunities create jobs.

She said: “There was a lot of hard work involved and we have some very dedicated staff and some very motivated staff within the organisation. Without them we wouldn’t be here.

“For a number of years we have looked at what we need to do to punch above our weight in the city and the district, as the district’s biggest landlord.

“We wanted to help our tenants into work and also help the district as a whole in terms of getting people into employment. We have got a really good track record now.”

Geraldine said the graduate scheme was a particular success.

She said: “It’s a real success in terms of people retaining their jobs. Of the last cohort of graduates, 100 per cent are in jobs.”

Highly commended: Rex Procter and Partners and Kinder Haven Ltd

Sponsored by Bradford College