Cleanzine: your weekly cleaning and hygiene industry newsletter 18th April 2024 Issue no. 1110
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ISS Account Director boosts employment in East London with award winning 'Training to Work' Scheme
ELBA (East London Business Alliance) has awarded Chris Burkert of ISS Integrated Solutions the BOOST Award for his contribution to its Project BOOST 'Training to Work' Scheme. ELBA, a leading social regeneration charity, has over 20 years of experience in facilitating successful partnerships between business and the community.
Chris, who is the Account Director for ISS' FM contract at Lloyd's of London, was nominated for his achievements as a Training into Work Scheme Champion at Lloyd's - who like ISS, is a long-standing corporate partner of ELBA, working with the Alliance on projects that provide work experience and employment opportunities for the local community.
Since mid-2012, Chris has worked with the Project BOOST team, which comprises staff from ELBA and London & Quadrant, the registered social landlord, to deliver a tailormade scheme created to give local residents a direct route into employment. The aim was to provide candidates an opportunity to build lasting careers based on experience gained within the service operations at Lloyd's.
The scheme included skills training, site tours, two-week work placements and a guaranteed job interview leading to a possible job on site or with other accounts. To date, Chris and the team have supported 26 local residents to secure employment on site or with other supporting employers. Candidates fed back that Chris 'always made them feel welcome and projected a positive attitude and a passion for the project.'
In their nomination, ELBA commented: "Chris Burkert has single handedly managed the logistics of the scheme and has represented the client positively and professionally". Jack Kent, Head of Property Services at Lloyd's added: "I am very pleased that Chris and ELBA have worked together so effectively. It is a credit to both parties that it has been a successful partnership resulting in disadvantaged people to gaining both work and experience at Lloyd's."
Ged Horn, ISS UK and Ireland Group HR Director says: "Chris fully deserves his award for his dedication to Project BOOST. ISS is proud to support ELBA, its partners and the Project BOOST team in the fantastic work they do, which is providing real employment opportunities for communities in East London."
11th July 2013