Farrans, Employability | Business in the Community Northern Ireland

Farrans

Farrans business is structured in two primary divisions: Building and Civil Engineering. The main divisions perfectly complement each other in terms of resource and expertise.

Background

It continues to develop excellence in all aspects of building and civil engineering while at the same time the boundaries of service level delivered to its customers are continually being extended. At the heart of this approach is the recognition of its wider social responsibility. As it shares its workplace with communities and the natural environment, it believes it is vital that it implements sustainable business practices across its operation.

Farrans wants to find a better way of delivering for its clients – openly, honestly, efficiently, and with an eye on value, creating employment opportunities in the communities in which it operates. Partnering with clients, the Farrans team challenges conventional thinking, brings ideas to the table, and never stops looking for ways to be smarter, leaner, more affordable, faster. Farrans wants to leave a positive image in the areas in which it works.

What Farrans did

The drive to innovate is integral to Farrans culture. It shapes how it operates and interacts with its clients and the local communities. Innovation & learning strategies are at heart of employment issues and it provides accredited training, instils a work culture and uses creative problem solving to ultimately enhance a person’s journey back to employment.

Farrans has developed a National Award-winning outreach programme (ASPIREActive; Skills; Programme; Integrating; Relevant; Experience) to tackle worklessness in the communities in which it works, promoting the construction industry and addressing the existing skills gap.

This unique, innovative and forward-thinking initiative has been specifically designed to reach out to the long-term unemployed, drugs and alcohol abusers, ex-offenders and those with learning disabilities. It involves employability skills training, a site visit, a two-week structured work experience, CV writing and interview skills training. Success depends on strong collaboration.

Building Social Value forms an integral part of Farrans strategy and it continually strives to achieve inspiring and exacting solutions, making a genuine difference to its customers, end users and society as a whole by delivering relevant, meaningful and achievable social value and employment initiatives, and exceeding industry best practice.

Impacts and Outcomes

  • 40 learners have participated on the ASPIRE
  • Young ex-offender secured a six month work placement
  • Young man from Mencap secured a two year contract of employment
  • Six learners from Prince’s Trust secured a two week work placement
  • Seven people from Jobcentre Plus have secured contracts of employment
  • 13 young people have returned to education

For more information, please email bmcguigan@farrans.com