One MCR is an agency within Manchester City Council that assists the council’s tenants and residents into local jobs.
Murraywood Construction approached One MCR to source a local person for employment at a Manchester City Centre project.
Kane
One MCR introduced us to Kane. He had a bricklaying qualification from an earlier college course but after finding it difficult to source employment on a site due to his lack of practical experience he moved into the catering industry meaning he was unable to work during the first Covid-19 lockdown in 2020.
Murraywood Construction had a great opportunity to team Kane up with one of our longstanding colleagues to further improve his construction skills and get him the experience he needed. Kane has been with us over a year now, is a valued member of the team and whilst gaining more experience on the ground, he is also undertaking courses in plant operations.
“Murraywood Construction has given me a great opportunity to enhance my skills. I have been working alongside experienced bricklayers including Tommy who has taught me a lot whilst here on site. All the guys on the team are great, with so much knowledge and experience to share. Going forward I would like to continue on site and achieve my blue card as well as undertake other courses alongside my practical training. Once I have my blue card I will be classed as a fully qualified bricklayer and Murraywood Construction, recognising we all have to start somewhere, have helped me get on that path.” – Kane Day-Donovan
James
On our Lincoln Square project within Manchester City Centre we were principal contractor and out site registered onto the Considerate Constructors Scheme. The Scheme indicates certain criteria and obligations to the immediate community, but nothing in regards to the surrounding community.
As principal contractors on this project we weren’t bound to undertake social value KPIs. but Murraywood Construction continued the initiative and working with One MCR we recruited James.
James started with us at the beginning of the project as a cleaning operative – he had been out of work for some time and living alone meaning he was isolated due to the Covid-19 restrictions and no immediate family in the area. Therefore the benefits of him working were not only financial but he told us being in work daily gave him something to look forward to and increased his confidence immensely.
Although James had to finish at the end of the project, Murraywood Construction were proactive in letting SV recruitment agencies know he was available for work and introducing him to organisations like Procure Plus in the hope he could continue working.