We're very pleased to announce that apprenticeships employer and futures provider Futureworks (Yorkshire) is joining the family of companies within our recently re-formed corporate structure.
In its 4 years in operation, Futureworks Yorkshire has employed over 210 apprentices and delivered Positive Futures, winning many awards and building strong employer and client partnerships. Their shared apprenticeship service, provided in partnership with the CITB, works with contractors, suppliers and consultants to provide high quality and value adding apprenticeships across the Yorkshire and Humber region and also in Flintshire.
Efficiency North and Futureworks Yorkshire have enjoyed a strong working relationship since the Shared Apprenticeship Service CIC was initially formed in July 2013. Futureworks Yorkshire’s first apprentice was an Efficiency North apprentice. Both organisations operate on a not-for-profit basis and share the same values and commitment to increasing training and employment opportunities in housing and construction in communities in the Yorkshire and Humber region that have been hardest hit by the current economic climate and the loss of traditional industries.
Futureworks Yorkshire will continue to operate business as usual, led by Mark Scott and Catherine Bishop and the team based in the Green Park Business Park, Newport, North Cave, remaining a CIC within the wider restructured Efficiency North Holdings group.
The Futureworks Yorkshire arm of Efficiency North will also go on to develop provision of higher level shared apprenticeships around an academy model to Efficiency North’s social housing landlord membership in the field of investment, asset management, development and customer services.
Building positive futures together
Futureworks Yorkshire’s Operations Executive Mark Scott commented, “This step is important in the context of Further Education reform and the introduction of the apprenticeship levy, CITB Consensus, recent government changes together with the recommendations of the Farmer Report. There is a need for us to continue to deliver our high-quality services and meet the needs of our valued partners in this changing landscape. We believe Futureworks Yorkshire has the opportunity to build on the best of the past and progress a sustainable infrastructure within Efficiency North as a larger organisation with shared values.”
Lee Parkinson, Chief Executive of Efficiency North Holdings commented, “We are delighted to welcome the Futureworks team. They continually strive to deliver quality support for their apprentices and partners and have been working hard to secure a sustainable future and increase opportunities for training and employment. By formally joining together we hope to improve on our strong track record of positive outcomes supporting apprenticeships and employers across Yorkshire and Humber. Together we can do more and better for our members and partners, and most importantly for the young people whose futures we all care about.”
Catherine Bishop, Futureworks’ Employment and Skills Executive commented, “Young People in Yorkshire and Humber have incredible talent to offer to the construction and housing sector. By uniting with Efficiency North Holdings Group we have greater chance of providing more tremendous opportunities to harness that talent and make real impact on skills shortages. We are Building Positive Futures Together.”