Investment in people key to success for Bloor South Midlands
On National Mentoring Day (27 October), Bloor South Midlands is celebrating its approach to growing and nurturing talent, with 26 apprentices and trainees currently in position within the region.
A family owned housebuilder with developments across Northamptonshire, Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire, Bloor Homes places great importance on training and development, offering employees a genuine career path which sees them draw on the experience and knowledge of more senior staff for support.
Indeed, 16 apprentices and 10 trainees currently work across the South Midlands team, benefiting from both financial support to fund their ongoing education, and the chance to learn on the job from experienced professionals.
Regional managing director, Richard Sarraff comments: “As one of the largest family run house builders in the UK people really do sit at the heart of our success.
“We always look to recruit talented, dedicated and passionate individuals but our commitment goes much further; it is about ensuring each team member has a clear path for progression and always feels valued so that we can retain both them and their expertise within the business.”
One such employee who has benefited from Bloor Homes’ commitment to mentoring is newly promoted Assistant Architectural Technician, Lyndon Hammond.
Having joined the company in 2015 as a Trainee Architectural Technician, Lyndon completed his Level 5 Diploma in Construction and the Built Environment at Moulton College. He is now undertaking a top up degree in Construction Management, for which he attends Moulton College in Northampton and Northampton University one day a week.
Lyndon explains: “Undertaking a professional qualification alongside a trainee role where I got the chance to demonstrate my ability from day one was the best decision I ever made. While studying and working at the same time certainly isn’t easy, it is really rewarding as you gain valuable experience and a qualification at the same time.
“The support I have received from the Bloor Homes team has been fantastic – as well as funding and supporting me through college and now university, they have passed on lots of advice and guidance which has helped me to progress in my career.
“Bloor Homes genuinely views its trainees as valuable members of the team who can drive the business forward in years to come and I am very proud to be a part of this.”
Meanwhile, Matteo Sarro, who joined Bloor Homes in 2016 as a Trainee Surveyor has recently transferred into a role as a Trainee Site Manager.
Commenting on his change of career, Matteo who is in his second year of a degree in Construction Management at Moulton College, said: “When I first began as a trainee, my goal was simply to get some valuable experience under my belt. After a couple of years, when I was offered the opportunity to transfer into a trainee role within construction I jumped at the chance as it is something I have a real passion for and it better compliments my degree.
“The team at Bloor Homes not only proposed the move, but have fully supported me in the transition, lining up a very well structured and planned induction. They will also support me with training across lots of key areas including health & safety, management skills and construction regulations.
“On top of that, the guidance I have received from the site manager, Gary Williams, at Cranfield Park is more than I could ever have hoped for. He has really taken me under his wing and I feel confident that with his mentoring I will have a successful career as a Site Manager ahead of me.”
Finally, having joined the sales team as a Trainee Sales Advisor at The Dovecote development, in Drayton in March 2018, Matthew Swann has now been promoted to Sales Advisor. Matthew now works at the regions Winslow Grange development and believes that the investment by Bloor Homes in training has really helped to support his development.
Matthew comments: “The training I received on joining the company was very thorough – they clearly invest heavily in developing talent and supporting us to become the best that we can be.
“In addition to the training courses which I attended, the team on site have really helped me to progress – the knowledge they have passed on has been invaluable to me and I am really happy that my efforts have been recognised with my recent promotion.”
Richard concludes: “Lyndon, Matteo and Matthew are fantastic examples from across the business of the great achievements that can be made when you have the right combination of talent, dedication and support. It has been a pleasure watching them develop and I wish them well in the next stage of their careers.”