VGC has won two Inspire awards: ‘Most Inspiring Employer’ and ‘Most Inspiring Employment Initiative’.
The award for most inspiring employer was for an organisation that “creates an inclusive environment in which all employees can thrive.”
Judges took into consideration how companies recognise the importance of equality in the workplace and attract staff from diverse backgrounds. They looked at how we support people into employment, and how we remove barriers that may prevent people from pursuing a career in the construction industry.
Our entry covered our local recruitment, supporting homeless people into work, Go Beyond the Gates, as well as referring to the Ethical Labour Sourcing Standard. It described our schools engagement and STEM ambassadors.
It also referred to the way we support our staff, including our behavioural safety programme, FIR ambassadors, Construction Workers’ Helpline, and the VGC Academy. In addition, we described our COVID adaptations including the daily staff email and COVID safety videos. The Inspire award judges concluded that VGC creates “an inclusive environment in which all employees can thrive”.
The other shortlisted companies were
- Aggregate Industries UK limited
- Cundall
- ENGIE
- Morgan Sindall Construction – Cambridge office.
The judges said:
It was great to read about VGC Group’s core values as well as the 11 FIR ambassadors making a difference. There was clear evidence of commitment to Time to Change and the provision of mental health support.
The ‘Most Inspiring Employment Initiative’ category was for companies which are leading the way on inclusion and tackling inequality. It recognises organisations in the construction, engineering or housing sector which ‘create an inclusive environment in which all employees can thrive.’ The award aims to reward companies which are removing barriers and supporting people into employment.
Also shortlisted in this category were
- Acis Group – for Accelerate and YES
- Creating Enterprise – for Creating Futures
- ENGIE – for The Building Blog.
Our entry described the ongoing success of Go Beyond the Gates, our programme to support ex-offenders into sustainable construction careers. The judges said:
A fantastic initiative which has shown real impact in helping past offenders move on with self-respect and create a positive future for themselves.
CEO Laurence Mckidd said: “I would like to thank all the members of staff whose ongoing hard work has led to these awards. They are an indication of how everyone at VGC supports each other every day to go beyond expectations and deliver for our colleagues, our clients and our community.”
The Inspire awards celebrate diversity and inclusion in UK construction, engineering and housing. They aim to help “inspire a more diverse and inclusive culture in the industry by celebrating those who are leading the way.”
The winner were announced at an awards ceremony on 8 July. The recording is available to watch on the Inspire website.
