We’re proud to celebrate the achievements of more than 10 colleagues from our Property Services team who have recently completed specialist training to boost their careers and strengthen the services we deliver to our customers.
By partnering with Sunderland College, Seaham Safety Services and Lomax Training Services, we’ve invested in our people and:
• supported several multi-maintenance colleagues to complete qualifications to develop and specialise in their roles to become full time roofers, plasterers, joiners, bricklayers and plumbers
• created a trainee plasterer role to develop the skills of an apprentice who is now working as a plasterer in the Damp team.
• invested in a gas trainee programme for several colleagues who spent a year gaining skills in gas installation and repair work. All colleagues on the programme are now fully qualified gas engineers with permanent contracts
• offered a further two colleagues’ contracts to train as plumbers after completing a NVQ Level 2 in Plumbing
Vicky McGuire, Property Maintenance Operations Manager at Gentoo said: “We’re lucky to have passionate, dedicated colleagues at Gentoo who care about delivering a high-quality repairs service to our customers. We recognised the potential of our maintenance colleagues and invested in their development as we knew they had the skills and attitudes to succeed. Their success in completing qualifications and securing full time maintenance positions reflects the hard work and dedication of the colleagues we have at Gentoo.”
Craig Parkinson, Head of Support Services at Gentoo said: “We recognised a number of our colleagues in repairs had years of hands-on experience but lacked the qualifications needed to progress in their career. Equally, we noticed some colleagues had the qualifications but lacked the practical experience. Through getting to know our colleagues and their skills, we’ve been able to invest in their development which has resulted in permanent, skilled jobs for over 10 of our colleagues. I’m proud of the hard work our repairs colleagues do for our customers every day and we will continue to invest in the skills of our people at Gentoo.”
Shaun Wilkie, a Joiner at Gentoo began his career with us as a Multi-maintenance operative and demonstrated skills in kitchen fitting and joinery. Shaun is now working as a full time joiner following investment in his training to complete an NVQ qualification.
Shaun said: “I have built a lot of confidence in my role since I started as a Multi-maintenance Operative. I now work full time as a Joiner after completing my qualifications and am looking forward to further developing my career at Gentoo.”
