Housing association Platform Housing Group has announced a new partnership which aims to help recruit ex-armed forces personnel.
Platform Housing Group — one of the UK’s largest social landlords — has teamed up with Brookhouse Training Centre, the UK’s number one gas and plumbing training and assessment specialists.
The training centre — which is based in Cleckheaton, West Yorkshire — mentors ex-military trainees; these trainees now have the opportunity to work alongside Platform Property Care heating engineers, assisting them in completing their study portfolios in order for them to qualify as Gas Safe registered engineers.
Phil Trickett, Heating Services Delivery Manager at Platform Housing Group said: “We are absolutely delighted to announce this ongoing affiliate partnership agreement. There are so many ex-forces men and women who make such a positive difference in the working world and we encourage and celebrate that within our own organisation.”
The process involves the trainee shadowing a Property Care gas engineer for several weeks whilst they complete a training portfolio to evidence meeting the necessary career which is then signed off by the mentoring engineer.
Phil concluded: “So far we have supported eight trainees in completing their study portfolios, all of whom went on to successfully become gas engineers. And we are delighted to announce that one of them, John Maclennan, has joined our team as a gas engineer.
“Helping our ex forces has a high social value for us, as well as a route to recruitment for the individuals. It offers them a great insight into our colleagues’ engineering capabilities, work ethic and attitude. And for the right person — like John — it can lead to a permanent and full time role within the team.
“There is so much potential in our continued role supporting Brookhouse and its trainees.”
John spent 25 years in the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards, a cavalry regiment of the British Army and the senior Scottish regiment.
John said: “The training I received at Brookhouse was well structured and delivered by knowledgeable instructors. Each lesson was tailored to the audience; some had no experience in plumbing or gas and some were qualified plumbers upskilling but nobody was left behind. As a new employee at PPC, the support I have received has been amazing. The company genuinely care about their engineers and if I am ever unsure, there is always someone on hand to help. It is also keen to help upskills, providing genuine opportunities for advancement.”
Tim Hughes, Development Manager at Brookhouse Training commented: “We are delighted to have teamed up with Platform Housing Group to enable our adult trainees to gain invaluable experience on their journey to qualify as domestic gas engineers. It’s a fantastic partnership which is already reaping rewards. We look forward to its continuing success.”
In November 2021, the Group received an award from the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme, or ERS. In order to achieve this, the Group signed up to a Ministry of Defence initiative to pledge its support for the armed forces community by signing an Armed Forces Covenant; this was officially approved in September 2021.
Platform Housing Group is committed to helping ex forces personnel find new careers in social housing.
Header image: From left to right are Phil Trickett, Heating Services Delivery Manager at Platform Housing Group; Paul Rodgers, Service Manager at Platform Housing Group; Simon Andrews, Work Placement Manager at Brookhouse Training Centre and Tim Hughes, Development Manager at Brookhouse Training Centre.
