Work with us

At Acorn we believe in order to be an industry leader we need a diverse and talented team who inspire and deliver innovative ideas to drive our business forward.

We don’t just look for skilled people, we look for driven, motivated individuals, and in return we provide them with space to develop those skills and inspire them to be the best they can.

We believe in removing barriers and providing the kind of benefits that support our team members through all life’s stages; we offer a generous maternity package, healthcare plan, pension scheme and personal development support.

Giving back to the communities we work within is a fundamental part of the Acorn ethos, and we actively encourage our team members to get involved in community work by giving them an additional two days paid leave per year, enabling them to support local charities, devote time to community projects or take part in fundraising events.

By investing in our team and providing an environment where they are encouraged to develop and thrive, we ensure we retain the best talent enabling us to grow our business with a dedicated and experienced team who in return are rewarded with exciting opportunities and careers. This is borne out in the number of team members who have been working with us for in excess of 10, 15 and 20 years.

Show House spoke to Mette Blackmore, our Group HR Director about her role. Here’s what she had to say…

Please tell us about yourself, your career path and your current position. I joined Acorn Property Group 20 years ago, at the time we were a small company with around 15 team members. Since then, Acorn has gone from strength to strength and the company has grown from that small initial team to five regional offices in London, Cornwall, Bristol, Cardiff and Exeter. I now look after well over 130 team members, and together we have delivered over 100 successful residential and mixed-use developments throughout these regions.

I am responsible for the implementation of Acorn’s human resource strategies and objectives across all of our regional offices, including recruitment, training and development, health and welfare, employee relations and retention - I continually work to ensure that we lead as a proactive, flexible and responsible employer. I am especially proud when we have people celebrating their 5, 10, 15 and 20-year anniversaries, knowing that I have been there along the way.

What is the current policy on recruitment for different roles? We have successfully grown by ensuring we have the right people in place to drive the business forward and deliver our ‘different by design’ ethos, which is vital to our success.

With continued growth throughout our regions, we employ various strategies to ensure we identify the best candidates who will fit our business. This could be through direct referrals from professional or personal relationships, from candidates seeking us out via LinkedIn or our website or through advertising within the industry. Acorn has a strong proportion of female employees – what sort of roles are they in? We are proud of the fact that around 45% of our employees are female. Our board of directors includes our Chairman, Group Managing Director and Funding Director, and myself, who are all women. We have other senior roles that are also held by women, such as our Accounts Director, Group Sales Manager and Group Marketing Manager.

We have female project and development managers throughout our regional construction and land teams, and other management positions all held by women.

Are there different ways to attract young people and women into the industry? The industry is facing a skills shortage as its current workforce reaches retirement, and fewer young people are taking up skilled trades. There are now a lot of positive initiatives in place in schools, colleges and across the industry aiming to counter the outdated perceptions of construction, attract new talent and offer an attainable and rewarding career path.

At Acorn we have worked hard to create an environment that encourages our team to flourish. We support each individual in building their skills through additional training, as well as nurturing the hands-on experience they gain daily. Providing a supportive and flexible working environment helps to attract more young people and women to the industry as there is a clear career path which will benefit them, and us, in the long run.

We’re also working to educate local schools and colleges, as well as pupils, on the wide range of careers on offer in construction. We have teamed up with a number of initiatives to promote and support women entering the industry and we strive to ensure that our HR policies are fair and inclusive, making us an attractive employer to women

Has a more flexible approach to, for example, working hours and home working, made the industry more appealing to women? We pride ourselves on our flexible approach, something that has been one of our core values for decades. This has helped us to create a work environment where our team are happy, they achieve exceptional standards of work and are committed to Acorn and our vision, which is why we have such a high staff retention rate.

Interview first published in leading new homes publication Show House - www.showhouse.co.uk

VALE OF GLAMORGAN

Stretching across the South of Wales and bordering Bridgend across to Cardiff, the Vale of Glamorgan is a beautiful county borough, offering the best of the Welsh landscape through the stunning scenery of the coast and countryside.

The coastal scenery around ‘The Vale’, is particularly breath-taking. The Glamorgan Heritage Coast is 14 miles of unspoilt coastline, with spectacular cliffs and secluded coves. The renowned Wales Coast Path also runs through from Gileston in the East to Porthcawl in the West, a beautiful route that takes in golden beaches and dramatic cliffs.

Throughout the county you will find idyllic villages like Bonvilston. Full of character, this village dates to Norman times and has an array of traditional pubs and a lovely village shop. Just a 20-minute drive from Cardiff, this village has the best of both worlds – rural living close to city life. Cottrell Park Golf Resort is also just 5 minutes away - nestled within 400 acres of beautiful parkland, the resort boasts two 18-hole championship courses.

Close by is the ancient market town of Cowbridge, a charming haven of independent retailers and high street favourites, alongside cafes, restaurants and bars. Tucked away in the centre is the Cowbridge Physic Garden, a beautiful half acre enclosure - an oasis of calm in a busy town.

There are so many heritage focal points across the county from Ogmore Castle to Penarth Pier and Pavilion to Nash Point Lighthouse along the Heritage Coast. A highlight is the National Trust owned Dyffryn House and Gardens, selected by the British Tourist Authority as one of the top gardens in the UK, here you can explore 55 acres of Edwardian garden design.

The Vale of Glamorgan is quite simply one of the most beautiful places to have the pleasure of spending time in. Once you visit, you just won’t want to leave.

Cottrell Park

Cowbridge

Dyffryn House

Show Home open

Rural living within easy reach of Cardiff

Cottrell Gardens comprises a bespoke collection of 2, 3, 4 & 5 bedroom homes perfectly positioned in the tranquil village of Bonvilston. Set among the rural beauty of the Vale of Glamorgan yet just a 20-minute drive from central Cardiff, you truly have the best of both worlds on your doorstep. The first phase of forty-one houses sit overlooking the award-winning Cottrell Park Golf Resort and feature access to open green space.

PRICES FROM £299,995 - £790,000 Bonvilston, Cardiff CF5 6TR

For further information contact:

Acorn Cardiff 01446 489 407 cottrellgardens@acornpg.org acornpropertygroup.org