Angela Constance MSP meets one of our painting apprentices, Neomi Blair.

Scotland’s Minister for Youth Employment today toured Scotland’s largestour apprentice-training facilities and paid tribute to both our employees and our apprentices.

As we employ over 450 apprentices, we are the largest apprentice-training provider in Scotland. Our impressive apprentice training completion rate of 95 per cent – compared to an industry average of 62 per cent – is due to our award-winning training and wrap-around support.

Angela Constance, MSP, and Minister for Youth Employment, said: “I am very impressed with the training on offer at City Building’s Queenslie facility. Jobs are a key priority for this administration, and a major part of that is investing in workforce training and development.

“What we see here is a holistic approach to training young people so they are fully equipped to enter the workplace. It’s about making sure that the workers of tomorrow can step with confidence onto the first rung of the employment ladder. Credit must go to the staff here who work so hard to maximise the potential of every apprentice that comes through their door.”

John Foley also commented: “We are delighted to welcome the Minister for Youth Employment to see for herself the work we do to make sure young people are given every opportunity to secure a job, with no stone left unturned.

“As one of Scotland’s largest construction companies, City Building is very proud to play a big role in tackling youth unemployment. Our apprentices are encouraged to reach their full potential. Our award-winning Queenslie Training Centre and Construction Skills Academy are the focus for the country’s largest – and most successful – apprentice-training scheme.”

We have been been innovative in our approach to apprenticeships and hasve worked with clients, sub contractors, our supply chain and other partners to ensure the opportunities for apprenticeships, whether they are adult, youth or rescued, are maximised.

One of Scotland’s largest construction companies will receive a Queen’s Award for Enterprise for Sustainable Development in recognition of its social and environmental work, it was announced today (Saturday 21 April).

The awards, which are seen as the most prestigious prizes available to UK businesses, come as the Queen prepares to celebrate her Diamond Jubilee.

City Building is strongly committed to the development of sustainable housing.  The company has formed a unique partnership with Glasgow Housing Association to build four prototype affordable houses – the first of their kind in Scotland. The Glasgow House initiative applies high levels of insulation, solar thermal panels and the use of solar gain to reduce energy consumption by 75 per cent to help tackle fuel poverty.

The business also incorporates the UK’s largest and most successful supported factory, Royal Strathclyde Blindcraft Industries (RSBi).  This facility provides vital employment and training opportunities for its disabled workforce and ex-service personnel returning from active service.

City Building, Glasgow City Council’s arm’s-length construction firm, works closely with housing associations and local agencies to improve well-being in the communities where it operates.

In addition, City Building runs Scotland’s largest apprentice centre with training programmes that focus on the importance of sustainability in construction through its pioneering ‘renewables apprenticeships’ scheme.

City Building works in partnership with leading organisations, including the Scottish Council for Development and Industry (SCDI). Lesley Sawers, Chief Executive of SCDI, commented: “This award is well-earned and a great recognition of the outstanding efforts of City Building as a leader in sustainability, environmental responsibility and community development.

“SCDI congratulates the management, staff and many apprentices of City Building for their hard work, dedication and teamwork in achieving this high-profile award and making the vision of a responsible and sustainable organisation a reality.”

The company was awarded a VIBES Award in recognition of the successful reduction of its own carbon footprint in 2011 and is also a former winner of the Large Green Company of the Year in Scotland.

The Queen’s Awards for Enterprise are made annually by Her Majesty The Queen. They are made on the advice of the Prime Minister after all applications have been considered by an advisory committee of leading experts.

City Building managing director, John Foley, said: “These awards are the pinnacle of achievement for any UK business. It is extra special to be honoured with a Queen’s Award for Enterprise in the year of the Diamond Jubilee celebrations and everyone at City Building can be very proud of their contribution towards achieving this accolade.

“As one of Scotland’s largest construction firms we have always placed great emphasis on our unique social ethos, which is vital to our success. City Building engages directly with the community to ensure all our work leaves a lasting legacy for local residents. We deliver green solutions to customers, and we have cut our own carbon footprint by more than a quarter since 2007.”

City Building will also receive an invitation from the Queen to a reception at Buckingham Palace and has the right to use the award for promotional purposes for a five year period. The company will be presented with the award by one of Her Majesty’s Lord Lieutenants on behalf of the Queen later this year.

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Robert Fox – a joiner with one of Scotland’s leading construction firms – has made it to the final of the Young Scot Awards after setting up a football club for under 16s in Glasgow’s Croftfoot.

The Sunday Mail Young Scot Awards, in association with The Co-operative Foundation, will celebrate the achievements of 11 to 26 year olds who have made a positive impact on the lives of others in addition to a real difference in their local community.

The 21-year-old football enthusiast – who joined us an apprentice and currently works as a joiner – founded Croftfoot United FC when he was 16. The club has since grown with over 80 children now participating.

Croftfoot United FC has recently progressed from seven-a-side football to the full 11-a-side game, and Robert, along with coaches Mark Strain and Thomas Lyons, is looking forward to the forthcoming season.

Robert said: “I’ve always loved football ever since my Dad took me to see my first Celtic match when I was nine. When I went to see Celtic in the UEFA Cup Final I decided I wanted to start my own club and help to find local talent.”

He continued: “It is excellent to be recognised with a nomination at the Young Scot Awards. I have a great team and this achievement wouldn’t be possible without them. We have found some very good players so far and a couple of bigger clubs have already shown interest in them.

“My ambition is for Croftfoot United FC to keep expanding and become the largest football club on the south side of Glasgow.”

John Foley, City Building managing director, said: “This is fantastic news for Robert. By giving youngsters with all levels of ability the chance to exercise, socialise and learn how to play football he is helping to bring the local community closer together.

“Robert is a skilled joiner and provides a first-class service for City Building customers. We wish him the best of luck at the Young Scot Awards, and hope that Croftfoot United FC will continue to go from strength to strength.”

Media Enquiries
Please contact Richard Bright on +44 (0)7770 886914 or email rbright@webershandwick.com, or David Sawyer on +44 (0)7770 886923 or e-mail dsawyer@webershandwick.com

Scotland’s First Minister toured RSBi and paid tribute to its 240 staff.

First Minister Alex Salmond said:

“Jobs are this government’s top priority, and a major part of that is investing in workforce training and development.”

“Employers, workers, union and communities working in partnership with government to promote workplace learning benefits all of us – which is why it’s so important to recognise achievements like those of the STUC award winners at Royal Strathclyde Blindcraft Industries here in Springburn.”

“Scottish Union Learning is supported financially by the Scottish Government and I’m proud of what our efforts are helping to achieve. But of course, the real credit lies with the staff here who work so hard to develop not only their own personal potential but the effectiveness of their teams.”

“Each and every one of them has my very best wishes.”

City Building managing director John Foley said: “The First Minister’s visit today is recognition of the great job our staff are doing every day at RSBi, producing quality products for the public, private and third sectors.

“RSBi is a commercially successful organisation because we continue to adapt our product range to suit the evolving needs of our customers. That’s why we can employ 240 people here in Springburn. RSBi is not run as a charity but as a thriving social enterprise.”

Community Union – the largest trade union within RSBi – provides funding for a range of training courses via the Scottish Union Learning Fund, which is administered by the STUC.

Many RSBi staff have benefitted from training through the Fund, which has brought a direct economic benefit to individual employees and to the company as a whole.

Grahame Smith, STUC General Secretary, said “The STUC Union Rep Awards highlight the invaluable contribution that trade union members make in the workplace.”

The First Minister’s visit came about after Robert Mooney, a development officer at RSBi, was awarded the STUC One Workplace Equality Award by the First Minister in November 2011.

A registered blind person, Robert invited the First Minister to visit his workplace and witness the state-of-the-art manufacturing taking place at RSBi.

RSBi has had a presence in Glasgow for more than 200 years. The business has continued to evolve to meet the changing needs of the marketplace and currently specialises in manufacturing a wide range of products for a broad customer base across the public, private and third sectors.

Media Enquiries

Please contact Richard Bright on +44 (0)7770 886914 or email rbright@webershandwick.com, or David Sawyer on +44 (0)7770 886923 or e-mail dsawyer@webershandwick.com

City Building – one of Scotland’s largest construction firms – has triumphed in the prestigious corporate social responsibility award category at The Scottish Business Awards 2012.

The Awards, which were held at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre on Thursday 23 February, celebrate Scotland’s 90 most successful, growing and dynamic businesses.

City Building won the Corporate Social Responsibility Award at the ceremony, for its sustainable practices and positive impact on the community. It was one of only three Glasgow companies to win a gong.

City Building managing director John Foley, said: “This is great recognition for generating real economic and sustainable benefits in our local communities and beyond, as well as our dedication to training hundreds of apprentices each year.”

“City Building trains over 500 apprentices, more than any other company in Scotland. We have created a highly-skilled workforce which contributes significantly to the economic stability and development of Scotland and we are proud that our unique social ethos has been recognised by the Scottish Business Awards.”

The awards were hosted by Angus Deayton and included a special address by Sir Bob Geldof. The judging panel was chaired by Duncan Bannatyne OBE, and included self-made multi-millionaire Shaf Rasul, entrepreneur Azeem Ibrahim, and owner of the MacDonald hotel chain, Donald MacDonald OBE.

City Building’s green achievements include gaining both ISO 14001 accreditation and Furniture Industry Sustainability Programme (FISP) status, plus successfully delivering new energy-efficient schools, housing and refurbished properties across West Central Scotland.

Via the ground-breaking Glasgow House project, City Building constructed highly energy-efficient, comfortable and affordable prototype homes which deliver an impressive two-thirds reduction in the typical energy costs of a three-bedroom home.

To complement this, the company is also training Scotland’s first generation of “renewables” tradespeople with specific qualifications in micro-renewables as part of their apprenticeship programme.

City Building also operates Royal Strathclyde Blindcraft Industries (RSBi), which employs 240 people, over 50 per cent of whom have a disability. Dedicated to making a difference in the community, RSBi has become one of the country’s leading examples of social enterprise, combining commercial success with socially responsible practices.

In partnership with Glasgow’s Helping Heroes, City Building also employs a number of HM Forces veterans who have been medically discharged after active service in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Media Enquiries
Please contact Richard Bright on +44 (0)7770 886914 or email rbright@webershandwick.com, or David Sawyer on +44 (0)7770 886923 or e-mail dsawyer@webershandwick.com

One of Scotland’s leading construction firms has been appointed to a framework agreement to provide construction and refurbishment services to around 400 new and existing homes across Scotland.

Home Scotland has appointed Glasgow-based City Building to the £40 million framework agreement to build new houses and flats for current and future tenants over the next four years.

The framework agreement means that City Building is one of only a handful of preferred contractors able to bid for work from Home Scotland – part of Home Group which is one of the UK’s largest providers of social housing.

City Building – Glasgow’s City Council’s arm’s-length construction company – has been appointed to the framework due to its experience of new build and refurbishment projects, with Home Scotland particularly impressed by the committed approach to quality, social ethos and innovation outlined in the City Building bid.

John Foley, City Building managing director, said: “We are delighted to be a part of this huge project which will contribute significantly towards the provision of new homes in Scotland.

“Our knowledge and experience of constructing new build housing and our extensive in-house management, technical and trades resources have helped us to deliver some market-leading sustainable developments across Scotland so far.

“We will continue to work hard to build upon this success for clients such as Home Scotland.”

City Building is one of eight companies that have been successful in a three-stage bid process to be appointed to the contract.

Media Enquiries
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During his military service with the Parachute Regiment Kevin Lee was a fearless soldier who fought in Afghanistan with a busted shoulder that required three operations to repair.

But like many ex-servicemen, finding work after his distinguished eight-year career proved an equally tough challenge when Kevin Lee returned to Glasgow in 2010. Luckily, the 32-year-old has been able to rebuild his life, thanks to his former manager at City Building, Gavin Hay.

Before his army days Kevin, from Dennistoun, completed a six-year apprenticeship as a joiner for City Building back in 1996-2002 under the tutelage of Gavin Hay, who remembered him as a hard worker who was also very ‘streetwise.’

It was local charity Glasgow’s Helping Heroes charity that put Kevin Lee back in touch with City Building in 2010. The company was only too delighted to offer Kevin a six-month trial and the chance to resurrect his civilian career.

City Building, Glasgow’s City Council’s arm’s-length construction company, has a proud record of employing former servicemen at its supported facility at RSBi and works closely with the Glasgow’s Helping Heroes charity.

Kevin Lee broke his left shoulder whilst on a training exercise in Oman in September 2006, when he fell down a cliff face in temperatures of 60ºC, carrying kit weighing 130lbs.

At the time the Parachute Regiment he was serving with had been seconded to support the SAS. Kevin was taken to a local hospital before being flown back to the UK to have the first of three operations at Selly Oak in 2006.

Unfortunately the operations were not a success and the shoulder continually slipped back out of its socket, sometimes in his sleep – chipping the bone in the process. Luckily, a third and final operation in 2010 in Glasgow worked, enabling Kevin to complete his rehabilitation.

Kevin Lee said: “I am very grateful for the support I have received from City Building and Glasgow’s Helping Heroes, who have put me back on my feet. Finishing a military career and then returning to normal life is a challenge and my future is now a bright one.

“Gavin Hay was my manager when I was an apprentice joiner for City Building, so it is nice he remembered me and was happy to take me on again. So far my shoulder has stood up to the task of finishing off walls at Ruchill Primary School. The army matured me and gave me a real appreciation of life, but things are going well now.”

John Foley, City Building managing director, said: “We are delighted to have Kevin Lee back working for us again as a joiner. He has gone full circle as he started out as an apprentice with us back in 1996 before he embarked on his distinguished military career.

“At City Building we pride ourselves on providing more than just a job for our employees and have the strongest social ethos of any construction company in the UK. We work closely with charities including Glasgow’s Helping Heroes to support our brave soldiers find their feet again in civilian life.”

Barry Henderson MBE, project manager at Glasgow’s Helping Heroes (GHH) charity, said: “Kevin Lee is one of many who have served their country with honour and deserve help to adjust back to civilian life. Kevin broke his shoulder in training yet still went and fought for his country in Afghanistan, despite the fact it would eventually take a total of three operations to fix his shoulder properly.

“After his army career we were able to help him access permanent housing via Glasgow Housing Association. Through GHH’s close connection to City Building, he was re-employed by them and we are delighted to see him on the path to a career and a bright future. Along with SSAFA Forces Help, Glasgow City Council, Glasgow Housing Association and our partners we aim to put our soldiers back on their feet again.”

Councillor Gordon Matheson, Leader of Glasgow City Council, said: “I’m delighted that Kevin is finding success in Glasgow after his service in the Paras. His story is a testament to the excellent work being done in the city to help veterans through initiatives like Glasgow’s Helping Heroes, a one-stop-shop for veterans, serving personnel and their families or carers that co-ordinates access to a range of services.

“The council and its partners are committed to serving ex-military personnel and their families by truly understanding their needs and making sure they are not disadvantaged in any way while living and working in Glasgow.”

Media Enquiries
Please contact Richard Bright on +44 (0)7770 886914 or email rbright@webershandwick.com, or David Sawyer on +44 (0)7770 886923 or e-mail dsawyer@webershandwick.com

One of Scotland’s largest construction firms has secured a contract worth £800,000 per year to provide kitchen units and fitments for North Ayrshire Council.

City Building – Glasgow City Council’s arm’s-length construction company – will provide the units from its supported manufacturing facility at RSBi. The contract begins on 25 November and runs for a year with an option to extend.

City Building managing director John Foley said: “This is another significant contract win for City Building and, specifically, RSBi. RSBi has been operating as one of Europe’s largest manufacturing facilities employing people with disabilities for decades.

“RSBi’s kitchens are delivered to a high standard of quality which gives specifiers and developers peace of mind in terms of their investment. We are confident we can deliver excellent results on this contract.”

RSBi is now one of Europe’s largest supported employment facilities, employing 240 workers, of whom more than 50 per cent have a disability. Staff produce high quality furniture, timber kits for new construction projects and bespoke office solutions to exacting customer standards.

RSBi works closely with a range of organisations including Glasgow’s Helping Heroes, and also employs a number of disabled ex-servicemen at its facility in Glasgow. RSBi has had a presence in Glasgow for more than 200 years.

Media Enquiries
Please contact Richard Bright on +44 (0)7770 886914 or email rbright@webershandwick.com, or David Sawyer on +44 (0)7770 886923 or e-mail dsawyer@webershandwick.com

One of Scotland’s largest construction firms has secured a three-year contract worth up to £2m to supply kitchen units and worktops for installation across East Ayrshire Council’s housing stock.

City Building will supply a range of four types of kitchen units and worktops made at its supported manufacturing facility – Royal Strathclyde Blindcraft Industries (RSBi).

The three-year contract – won on competitive tender – started on 25 November and will see up to 1000 kitchen units per year supplied for installation by East Ayrshire Council’s Housing Asset Services or its installation contractor.

Key to the contract win was RSBi’s recent successful bid to secure FIRA Gold certification, in recognition of its high quality products and professional craftsmanship.

The independent FIRA Gold certification scheme is a quality certification mark for a product or its installation within the furniture and kitchen industries.

John Foley, managing director of City Building, said: “We’re delighted with this contract win which is one of many other business gains. RSBi produces furniture and construction products to high standards, while giving genuine and lasting employment opportunities to local people, including those with disabilities.

“We look forward to working in partnership with East Ayrshire Council on this important project.”

Chris McAleavey, head of housing services from East Ayrshire Council said: “We are confident that the finished product will match our high expectations. RSBi is well known for its high quality products and unique social ethos.”

In separate news, City Building has been appointed to East Ayrshire Council’s kitchens, bathrooms and rewiring installation framework for the next two years.

RSBi is now one of Europe’s largest supported employment facilities, employing 240 workers, of whom more than 50 per cent have a disability. Staff produce high quality furniture, timber kits for new construction projects and bespoke office solutions to exacting customer standards.

RSBi works closely with a range of organisations including Glasgow’s Helping Heroes, and also employs a number of disabled ex-servicemen at its facility in Glasgow. RSBi has had a presence in Glasgow for more than 200 years.

Media Enquiries
Please contact Richard Bright on +44 (0)7770 886914 or email rbright@webershandwick.com, or David Sawyer on +44 (0)7770 886923 or e-mail dsawyer@webershandwick.com

This announcement comes on the back of a series of new contract wins for one of Scotland’s largest construction companies – Glasgow City Council’s arm’s length construction firm.

City Building – which has won over £1 billion of new business through competitive tender over the past few years – has given permanent contracts to 43 of its current temporary employees.

Twelve joiners, an estimator and four timeout construction apprentices who were trained by City Building have also been given temporary posts. In addition, City Building has helped secure employment with local firms for a further five timeout apprentices.

City Building has also announced that its manufacturing facility RSBi has awarded two-year contracts to three people through the Work Choice Programme, which supports disabled people in employment.
Thrilled employees were informed this morning and the new positions will come into effect on 9 January 2012.

Councillor Stephen Curran, chair of City Building, said: “This is another great example of the jobs and life opportunities that Glasgow City Council and its arm’s-length organisations are delivering to give long-term benefit to the residents of Glasgow.”

City Building managing director John Foley said: “We are delighted to give our valued employees this good news in the run-up to Christmas. While there is no room for complacency, we are able to make this announcement because we have a healthy order book for 2012 and beyond.

“This is due to our enviable reputation in the marketplace for delivering on time and on budget, while maintaining the strongest social ethos of any construction business in the UK.”

City Building has recently secured a number of contracts ranging from Housing Association Repairs and Maintenance to new-build construction projects.

Media Enquiries
Please contact Richard Bright on +44 (0)7770 886914 or email rbright@webershandwick.com, or David Sawyer on +44 (0)7770 886923 or e-mail dsawyer@webershandwick.com