Two Redrow training initiatives recognised in national awards

Two initiatives to up-skill employees of Redrow Homes have been short-listed in the 2008 Housebuilding Innovation Awards. An innovative development programme that ‘home grows' future site managers and an awareness and training programme to improve the quality of the design of Redrow developments have both been shortlisted in the ‘best training / staff initiative' category of these national awards.

Devised by the Home Builders Federation and Housebuilder magazine, the awards aim to recognise companies which are demonstrating a commitment to innovation in the housebuilding industry. The awards are supported by the Government, which views them as an aid to raising standards.

Winners will be announced at London's Millennium Mayfair hotel on October 23.

Karen Jones, human resources director for Redrow, comments: "For two of the six short-listed entries in this category to be initiatives by Redrow is evidence of our commitment to developing the skills of our staff and helping them fulfil their ambitions."
About a dozen assistant site managers from all over the UK take part in the Assistant Site Manager Development Programme each year and, so far, more than 30 employees have benefited from this innovative approach over three years.

Karen adds: "What sets Redrow's programme apart is the unique way that it combines the company's own tailor-made accreditation with a nationally recognised qualification - NVQ Level 3 in construction site supervision - which has been delivered by partnering with the National House-Building Council (NHBC)."

The company's second short-listed initiative, the Urban Design Training and Awareness programme, is aimed at improving the quality of its development design to help differentiate Redrow from its competitors.

Redrow's strategy is to distinguish its product through the design not only of each home built, but with an increasing focus on their setting and environment. This is accomplished through three Design Centres of Excellence, which act as ‘consultants' to the operating companies and work closely with the existing design and technical teams to deliver consistent, high quality solutions that maximise the potential of every site.

The programme has included a series of training events and workshops, supported by CABE (Commission for Architecture & the Built Environment) and other professional bodies, to communicate the commercial and social benefits of good design to individual teams delivering new projects at a local level and to increase the skills of Redrow's in-house design teams.

For further information on employment and training opportunities with Redrow go to Redrowcareers.co.uk.