Connect Magazine 2019

CONNECT

2 0 1 9 customer care

goes technical PAGE 8

Investing in our future PAGE 10

Pushing the skills agenda PAGE 22

Expansion plans reach major milestone PAGE 16

OUR YEAR IN NUMBERS

38 YEARS in business

50Pride

2branches new

jobAWards

in the

71 seals of qualifying 13

and

excellence

Apprentices

over 21,000 new homes WIRED

wiring

460

42

homes

for

different VEHICLES BUILDERS

9,963 MILES of cable used {

IN OUR FLEET

11

}

THAT’S TRIPS FROM LAND’S END

TO JOHN O’GROATS

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Connect Magazine 2019

233 YOUNGSTERS

AT OUR CHILDREN’S

CHRISTMAS PARTY

Nathan WELCOME from

EVANS MANAGING DIRECTOR

Hello and welcome to our latest edition of Connect magazine. We’ve had a fantastic year and inside you will be able to find out more about our latest achievements and get to know the people who help make our company the continuing success it is today.

To me, Clarkson Evans’ ethos is ‘the customer is king’. This has always been our mantra and I believe that sets us apart as a business. We put our clients first and deliver on what we promise.

The year started on a high when we were named as the Bovis Homes Group Contractor of the Year in January. This was a real honour – particularly as Bovis Homes became our very first housebuilder customer soon after the business started way back in 1981.

We also reached the milestone of opening our 20th branch this year - in Kettering. This came soon after the launch of our Nottinghambased operations and together, these new branches are part of our plan to expand further into the East Midlands. You can read more about this inside.

Looking further ahead, my vision is that five years from now, the company will employ 1,000 site-based staff and be turning over £100m. It’s an ambitious but also achievable target. We already have 600 people ‘on-thetools’ with a turnover of £60m and I believe that if we continue to put our customers first and keep offering the quality, service, reliability and value for money that we are known for, then my vision will become a reality.

As we continue to expand the company, it is vital we strengthen our infrastructure, so we are investing heavily, particularly in IT. There is so much to look forward to in 2019 and beyond and as we look back on this year, I want to say a massive thank you to everybody who has helped us get to this point and to our customers for their continuing support.

We will always strive to be the best contractor in the industry and we couldn’t achieve this without the hard work and effort of all our staff, many of whom are featured in this year’s magazine.

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in the spotlight

Lindsey

Young

Chief Operating Officer

Lindsey Young started her career with Clarkson Evans as Training Administrator 17 years ago and in January 2018, she was appointed Chief Operating Officer. Here she talks about how the business has changed and her hopes for its future.

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What does a chief operating officer do day to day?

My role is really quite broad. On paper I oversee HR, marketing, health and safety and our in-house apprenticeship training operations but I regularly get involved with other aspects of the business to add value wherever I can. Representing Clarkson Evans externally to other businesses is also an important part of my job and something I really enjoy.

How has the business changed since you started?

When I joined we had around 150 staff and just three branches. Things have changed considerably since then; employing 900 people and operating across much of England and Wales is a completely different ball game. We’ve grown quickly in the last five years or so especially and this has meant having to adapt and move away from operating like an SME. We are now a large business, especially as electrical contractors go, and this brings a whole new set of challenges, responsibilities and opportunities.

What are you most proud of in your time with Clarkson Evans?

There are so many things to be proud of, especially the numerous training awards that we’ve won over the years. I’m pleased to know that I’ve had a hand in many of our successes and I’ve always felt proud of the company I work for.

What are your hopes for the business over the next five years?

We’ve got significant growth plans, aiming to almost double our turnover to reach £100m by 2023 through expansion to new areas of the country. We know there will be a downturn in the industry at some point because it does go in cycles, but I hope Brexit doesn’t have the damaging impact that many people fear.

Clarkson Evans is a huge ambassador of apprenticeships and training - do you think there is still a skills shortage and what should be done about it?

There’s a huge skills shortage in the construction industry and if we’re to build the extra 100,000 homes a year that the Government is aiming for, this is likely to be the main barrier.

I’m involved in various industry groups trying jointly to tackle this, including the Home Builders Federation’s Careers, Skills and Training Committee, but gaining serious commitment from everyone in the sector to invest in training such as apprenticeships is a considerable challenge. Clarkson Evans has been training large numbers of apprentice electricians for over 20 years and I think it’s only if more sub-contractors make long-term investments in training that we’ll stand a chance of meeting targets for house building.

What is your favourite holiday destination?

Dubai

What was the first album/single you bought?

Madonna’s True Blue on vinyl.

How would you spend a perfect Gloucestershire day out?

Shopping in Cheltenham before catching a romcom at the cinema and then a Thai meal with plenty of Sauvignon Blanc.

What was the last book you read?

Only Fools and Stories

by David Jason.

If you could only watch one TV box set, what would it be?

House of Cards

Which five people would be on your dream dinner party guest list?

Sheryl Sandberg (Facebook COO), Richard Branson, Tom Hanks, Gary Barlow and Graham Norton.

If you could give your teenage self some career advice, what would it be?

That standing up to present in front of an audience really isn’t that scary, but doing it well is hugely important if you’re aiming high.

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Pride

In the

Job We are immensely proud of the standard of the finish we provide, but it is also fantastic to receive industry recognition for it too.

This year we’ve helped 50 site managers win Pride in the Job Awards – the most highly sought after mark of quality in the house building sector.

To gain this award managers need to not only demonstrate strong technical skills and effective health and safety controls, but also show leadership, attention to detail and a consistent approach to achieving high quality workmanship.

The 50 award-winning site managers we’ve worked with represent 14 different builders, and 13 of them have progressed to achieve Seals of Excellence.

We are continually reinforcing the standards expected with audits carried out at first, second and final fix stage, so we are delighted to see this hard work recognised once again in these awards.

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Our dedicated technical team is here to advise our customers, not just our staff.

With the launch of our ‘Techtalk’ email service and our new QR code system for home owners, they’re making sure we move with the times and continue providing a first-class service to our customers.

Technical Director Leigh Mason and his team members Technical Manager Sheridan Russell and Technical Supervisor Carl Gough, have a wealth of experience between them. Together they are busy innovating behind the scenes and providing technical guidance.

Customers can now email them at techtalk@clarksonevans.co.uk and draw on their expertise, whether it’s electrical queries or help with understanding building regulations.

TALKING TECHNICAL

“We’ve always been happy to help customers solve problems, but now it’s something that we’re actively promoting,” Leigh said.

“I believe we have some of the strongest sector knowledge in the country, so this adds value to the service we offer.”

Innovation is also something we can thank our technical team for. Our latest development is the addition of QR code labels to our consumer units so home owners can get essential help and advice online in seconds, using their phone.

“We have all of this great information on our website, but we wanted to make it even easier for home owners to find it,” Leigh said.

“So we came up with the idea of the QR code sticker. When a customer scans the QR code with their phone camera or an app, it will take them straight to the right page online.

“Our website has a range of simple videos to help people deal with a host of minor electrical issues. We have how-to videos such as what do in a power cut, resetting circuits if they trip out, changing lamps in downlighters or changing smoke detector batteries.

“There are some occasions when we’re called out to homes where some of the problems are small and could be resolved by the owners with the right advice, and that’s where these videos come in.”

Our technical team is constantly looking at new ways of doing things so watch this space for more fresh ideas in future.

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Email Techtalk@clarksonevans.co.uk for advice from our dedicated technical team

And

On the property Career ladder

Choosing a well-paid career at Clarkson Evans has enabled many of our electricians to become home owners early on in life.

68% At Clarkson Evans

40% Nationally

of people aged 25-34 own their own home

Getting on the housing ladder can take years these days with the average age of a first-time buyer being 30.

Electricians at Clarkson Evans have been able to buck this trend with many buying properties before they are 25, thanks to the good salaries and bonus scheme.

According to the 2017 English Housing Survey, fewer than 40 per cent of 25 to 34-year-olds in England own their own home.

Almost 70% of Clarkson Evans’ electricians in that age group are on the housing ladder.

Many apprentices at the company buy their first homes within months of qualifying as electricians.

of our electricians aged 25-34 own their own home

Team Leader and former apprentice Luke Brockman said: “I celebrated qualifying by saving a bit more money and then I proposed to my girlfriend and bought my first house, so it’s going pretty well.”

Site Supervisor Alex Pollard was 27 when he bought his first home. “I’m very pleased because it’s difficult for people of my age and there aren’t many of them that can afford to get their own home,” he said.

Long-term financial security is often cited as the primary reason why people change careers and decide to join Clarkson Evans as an electrical apprentice.

at the company, said he became an electrical apprentice at Clarkson Evans because he couldn’t get a mortgage in his previous job.

MD Nathan Evans said: “There is a lot of pressure on students completing A-levels to rush headlong towards university because there’s a perception, often among parents, that this is the only way their children can secure a well-paid job. This is simply not the case.

“Here at Clarkson Evans we offer good salaries with a strong bonus scheme which enables many of our electricians to get their foot on the housing ladder early.”

Site Supervisor James Clift, who received a long-service reward after working for 15 years

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Paula Bradshaw Investing in our future

Chief Financial Officer

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Building a sustainable business is a team effort and one of the key people leading the way for Clarkson Evans is Paula Bradshaw. Formerly Finance Director, she is now Chief Financial Officer with responsibility for many of our support services. Here she talks about the priorities ahead.

When Paula joined us from global fashion company SuperGroup just over two years ago, she said it was our vision and family ethos which first attracted her to the business.

Now, in her new role as Chief Financial Officer, she wants to use these strong foundations to help shape our future.

She took up the position in October and now heads up the teams responsible for premises and facilities, warehouse management and logistics, tools, IT, finance and managing the fleet of more than 400 vans.

“I am very motivated about my wider role. There is such a good base to build on and it’s a great opportunity to use my broad experience from previous companies and control more than just finance,” she said.

Paula is passionate about ensuring that profits are turned into cash and, as finance director, her focus was on encouraging a joined-up approach across the business to strengthen the company’s cash position and support our ongoing reinvestment in the business.

Our investment in both people and resources will ensure Clarkson Evans continues to create a sustainable business for the future and this includes a major project to upgrade our IT infrastructure and operational systems.

get everyone inspired about the role they can personally play in helping shape the business.”

Paula is no stranger to the wider business world herself, having been Group Financial Controller at SuperGroup (known for the SuperDry brand) before joining Clarkson Evans. She has also held senior finance roles at national dentistry group Oasis Dentalcare and international oil and gas provider The Expro Group.

“What attracted me to Clarkson Evans was the vision around the business, the growth and the award-winning apprenticeship programme. We are really contributing to people’s lives by offering worthwhile careers and continuing to grow a company with a strong reputation and great service offering in an expanding industry,” she said.

Her driving passion is to ensure the business maintains this momentum, operating from a position of financial strength, so we can weather any economic changes in the future and continue to invest in people and provide high-quality service to our clients.

“

I am very motivated about my wider role. There is such a good base to build on and it’s a great opportunity to use my broad experience from previous companies.

”

Paula added: “As well as the long-term projects, my immediate priority is look at what we can do to develop our existing people and their roles.

“We have really good teams with some strong experience in there, but by being more outward-looking and seeing how things work in other businesses I hope to

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Awards Round up

It has been another great year for Clarkson Evans when it comes to industry recognition both regionally and nationally. The awards reflect so many different areas of the business from our quality workmanship and strong apprenticeship scheme, to our health and safety record. Well done to everyone who was nominated.

Here’s a look back at our awards achievements in 2018.

MD Nathan Evans with Greg Fitzgerald, Chief Executive of Bovis Homes Group

JANUARY Contractor OF THE YEAR

TOP 100 APPRENTICESHIP EMPLOYER

2018 started well for us when we were named regional and national contractor of the year

by Bovis Homes Group plc.

Clarkson Evans was named as one of the Top 100 Apprenticeship Employers in the country.

Clarkson Evans has worked with the company for more than 30 years, wiring a wide range of homes, from two-bed starter properties to large six-bed family properties, across the housebuilder’s regional network.

We have been trusted to wire some of Bovis Homes’ landmark developments, including the Sherford development on the outskirts of Plymouth, which is anticipated to take 20 years to complete and will eventually comprise 5,500 homes, four schools, community facilities and a business quarter.

Greg Fitzgerald, Chief Executive at Bovis Homes Group plc said: “Working with contractors like Clarkson Evans is all part of our drive to focus on building high quality homes and we’re delighted to name the company as our Contractor of the Year.”

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We were recognised for our outstanding contribution to apprenticeships at the National Apprenticeship Awards 2017 held in January 2018.

These prestigious awards demonstrate how employers can grow their own talent by offering apprenticeships and show that apprentices are making a significant contribution to their workplace.

MARCH

APPRENTICE EMPLOYER OF THE YEAR It was a case of first time lucky for us at the Annual Apprenticeship Conference Awards.

We were named Apprentice Employer of the Year, seeing off competition from heavyweight organisations such as BT, Capgemini and Sheffield City Council.

The coveted accolade was one of a number presented at the first-ever AAC Awards ceremony at the ICC in Birmingham.

It was organised by FE Week and the Association of Employment and Learning Providers.

APRIL

ROSPA PRESIDENT'S AWARD We achieved a President's Award for gaining 12 consecutive Gold Medals, as well as Fleet Safety Silver in the internationally-renowned RoSPA Health and Safety Awards.

It is the longest-running industry awards scheme in the UK, receiving entries from organisations around the world. It recognises achievement in health and safety management systems, including practices such as leadership and workforce involvement.

JULY

Picture by Thousand Word Media

GLOUCESTERSHIRE APPRENTICESHIP AWARDS Former nightclub manager Paul Folks, who retrained as an electrician at the age of 28 to secure his family’s financial future, was named Construction Apprentice of the Year at the 2018 Gloucestershire Apprenticeship Awards.

We nominated Paul for the award as he was a first-class electrical apprentice who not only passed all his exams first time, but also demonstrated excellent practical skills, a stand-out professional attitude and determination to progress quickly once qualified.

The Gloucestershire Apprenticeship Awards are highly contested in all categories, none more so than the construction category, which champions excellence across the construction industry.

Paul said: “Winning this award is one of the highlights of my career and I’m grateful to Clarkson Evans for putting me forward.”

NOVEMBER

NATIONAL HOUSEBUILDERS AWARDS We were a finalist in the Sub-Contractor/Services Provider of the Year category at the National Housebuilders Awards 2018.

Held in November in London, these awards celebrate the best in housebuilding across the UK, with recognition given to developers for sustainability, design and customer service. The sub-contractor award places great emphasis on feedback from customers and quality workmanship.

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JAMIE BRYAN Head of Lecturing Jamie Bryan joined Clarkson Evans Training in 2012 following an extensive career as an electrician in domestic, industrial and commercial settings including working on a Radiohead stage set and helping to install the lighting on the Strictly Come Dancing judges’ desk.

He was appointed Head of Lecturing in May this year and he and his team of nine lecturers are responsible for the classroom-based training of our apprentices. Teaching is his passion and he can still be found taking lessons every week.

Day Life In

The

7.30am

“No two days are the same, but whether I’m teaching at one of our training centres or spending a day in the office to catch up, I like to be in early.

“If I’m teaching, I’ll spend some time writing starter questions for the apprentices to get them ready for a day in the classroom.

“I am really enjoying my role as Head of Lecturing. It is very busy but so rewarding.”

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8.15am

“I teach a group of apprentices in Bracknell one day a week and so this is when my time in the classroom begins, with the first of three two-hour teaching sessions for the day.”

“We tend to do the heavier subjects in the morning, such as electrical principles and installation design, saving the more practical work for the afternoon.”

11.30am

“When I’m not lecturing or visiting one of our other sites, I use my time to meet with my team and generally get on top of all the assessment paperwork or any lesson material. There are about 32 weeks of teaching a year, with the team spread across different sites, so when we are not in term time, I make sure I am catching up with the lecturers through team meetings and individual one to ones.”

1.30pm

“I can often be found in the classroom in the afternoon, whether that is teaching or taking notes to provide feedback during someone else’s lesson.

I am responsible for ensuring we are meeting the standards that Ofsted and awarding bodies expect for training and assessment in the classroom, so that means lots of session observations and paperwork.”

3.30pm

“This is when my day in the classroom is done and I spend the time catching up with any marking, chatting to the lecturers about their day and ensuring things are in shape ahead of the next day.”

After work

“I generally finish at about 4.30pm and it’s then off to spend time outdoors for me.

“I often have my mountain bike in the back of the car and when I’ve finished work, I go to the Forest of Dean or somewhere for a ride.

“I also do a lot of white-water kayaking in my spare time.”

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Expansion plans

Leeds

reach major

Current branches NEW BRANCHES FOR 2018 Proposed new branches

sheffield

milestone

Area coverage planned growth Nottingham

STAFFORD TELFORD

We opened our 20th branch as part of our expansion into the East Midlands.

BIRMINGHAM KETTERING

MILTON KEYNES

Our two new branches in Kettering and Nottingham are part of our five-year plan that will see us move even further north, with branches expected to open in Sheffield and Leeds in the near future. Meanwhile we also have eyes on further expansion in the South East, with a branch in Ashford likely to be on the map for 2019.

GLOUCESTER (HQ) OXFORD CARDIFF

BRISTOL

BRACKNELL

TROWBRIDGE BRIDGWATER

CRAWLEY

BARNSTAPLE

Ashford

SOUTHAMPTON worthing

EXETER

NEWQUAY

PLYMOUTH

Our Heads of production STAFFORD TELFORD

BIRMINGH

Mark MOore

Chris Pike Central

Wales & South West

07967 742 099 markm@clarksonevans.co.uk

07989 477 006 cpi@clarksonevans.co.uk

07867 454 922 chrisg@clarksonevans.co.uk

Midlands

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Chris Goodison

Simon Jones

south & South East 07813 578 812 GLOUCESTER (HQ) simonj@clarksonevans.co.uk

CARDIFF

BRISTOL TROWBRIDGE

When we open a new branch, it’s because we’re responding to demand from our customers but winning work in a new area is only part of the challenge. To make the new branch fully operational we rely on an experienced team of ‘unsung heroes’ who operate behind the scenes. They handle everything from the property search and negotiations to our IT set up and the logistics needed for supplying materials.

PREMISES

Neil Richards Head of Property, Risk & Asset Management “Finding premises which tick all of the boxes isn’t easy. We need modern units that are close to major routes with plenty of parking and enough space to accommodate an office, room for all of the materials we handle in-house and a canteen (for staff to enjoy the free breakfasts we provide). Sometimes we need to include a classroom and workshop facilities for training apprentices too.

It’s certainly a long wish list!

“Once we have signed a lease, it’s full steam ahead to meet tight deadlines for fitting it out to our standard specification so that we’re ready to go live as soon as possible.”

LOGISTICS

IT

“When a new branch is added to the map it’s my job to make sure we’ve planned how we’re going to get our materials there each day and that systems are in place for issuing them to our electrical teams.

“Before we get the keys for a new branch we’ll already be making sure the IT equipment is on order.

With the company’s commitment to issuing team leaders with iPads and giving them access to electronic drawings, forms and guidance, the IT team is relied upon to make sure everything works.

Mike Mumford Warehouse Manager

“We know that when team leaders order their kits from our Gloucester warehouse each day they need to be able to rely on our in-house overnight delivery process.

“Teams at the new branch also need to have access to a range of sundry items so we stock up the shelves and we recruit someone local to take charge of the stores section within each depot.”

Chris Wasley IT Manager

“Each branch needs wi-fi and connectivity to our head office systems. Team leaders must be able to download the latest drawings on their iPads and submit electronic test forms so when there’s a target date for a branch going live we know we have to make sure everything is in place and properly tested.”

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Breaking

new ground

in business Deciding where we expand our operations is very much driven by customer demand. We’ll go where we see the opportunities to grow revenue and that's where our commercial team comes in.

It's an exciting time at Clarkson Evans as we look to almost double our turnover in the coming years.

This ambition will be realised if we continue to build on the strong foundations with our existing customers, but also secure new clients across the country.

Our commercial department prides itself on delivering excellent service for our developers. Each builder has a dedicated Clarkson Evans commercial team working closely with them, so as we continue to grow, they still get the personal service they might expect from a smaller contractor.

Commercial Director Tim Bisp and MD Nathan Evans

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We are reaping the rewards of this commitment to customer service this year. We are working with 19 new builders nationwide, plus 14 additional offices for existing clients.

MD Nathan Evans said: “Clarkson Evans hugely values its relationships with developers up and down the country and we pride ourselves on delivering the best possible service and customer care.

“We have ambitious growth plans for the business and it is vital we continue to offer this first-class service to our clients and ensure we maximise commercial opportunities in the regions to drive further revenue.”

Our two new branches in 2018 were a direct result of opportunities arising in the East Midlands market and our commercial team’s aim is to capitalise on this, building a larger customer base in the region and beyond.

Commercial Director Tim Bisp said: “We start planning a new branch when demand from our customers is drawing us into new locations which are difficult to service from our existing bases. As well as expanding to work on more sites for existing customers, moving into new areas also opens doors to new clients.

“Whenever we’re working with a new customer for the first time, we know it’s a chance to showcase what we can do.

Competitive prices count for a lot, but we also know that delivering high quality workmanship will be the difference between a short-term site win and a long-term relationship.”

Moving on up

Team Leader Nathan Jackson (centre) with Apprentice Stuart Baker (left) and Apprentice Craig Woodjetts (right) on site in Nottingham

Our expanding branch network means there are plenty of opportunities for our electricians to fast-track their careers.

Working away at another Clarkson Evans branch offers the chance to experience life in other parts of the country, plus take on increased responsibility and earn a higher wage.

own sites and take the responsibility of supervising apprentices,” he said.

“Although it’s been a big learning curve there’s plenty of support available and I have no regrets about the move to Bracknell.”

“When I first moved over, I was living in the shared company house and it was great to be with people who were in the same boat, so you had someone to talk to about your day with at night,” he said.

“I took up the opportunity to work away as I wanted the chance to become a Team Leader and I have really enjoyed it.

“I am getting married in February and the extra money has definitely come in useful for that.”

By taking up a position in Bracknell, Southampton or Milton Keynes newlyqualified electricians are offered an enhanced remuneration package, and they get to live rent and bill-free in a company house.

Jack Bradley

When Team Leader Jack Bradley first qualified as an electrician, he had two choices – stay in Gloucester and start a new role as a sub-team leader or take the plunge and work away for a few years to accelerate his career.

Seven months in, he is now managing multiple sites and is using the extra money he is earning to save for his first home.

“I was not wedded to staying in Gloucester and so I thought I’d chuck myself in at the deep end to see whether I’d got what it takes to be in charge of my

Jacob Bohana also works in the Berkshire town as a Team Leader. He qualified in 2017 and moved to Bracknell to take up his promotion in October that year.

Nathan Jackson is a Team Leader at our new Nottingham branch and he is really enjoying the new challenge.

“Being in a new branch has been a great experience,” he said.

As well as encouraging our electricians to take up positions in our new branches, we are also passionate about offering opportunities for people in the local area to join our apprenticeship scheme.

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Chris

PIKE Head of production

Chris began working at Clarkson Evans as an apprentice when he was 18. Fast forward just over 12 years and he is now the Head of Production for our central region which includes our Gloucester, Oxford and Milton Keynes branches.

Day Life In

The

6.30am

“I like to get to each of the branches at least once a week and the first thing I do is take a walk around to chat to the team leaders and apprentices there.

“I love being at the branches as you can get a real feel for how things are going and staff morale. It also means I can be there to answer any questions they have or look at any extra support they need.”

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8.00am

“No matter which branch I am visiting, I generally spend a lot of my morning having meetings with the area supervisors and area managers to chat through any updates on work or just generally to ensure everything is on track.

“Seven area managers and supervisors report in to me with about 220 staff working in the branches, so being there means I can work with them to deal with matters which arise straightaway.

11.00am

“Often I will make random visits to one of the 180 active sites in my region to say hello to the teams and the builders. One of the things I love most about my job is building those relationships with the developers and it is an important part of what we do to help us win the work.”

1.00pm

“I will regularly be at a builder’s seminar in the afternoon. This is where the developers get together with their board of directors and subcontractors to look at what they want to achieve over the next few years.

“They give out information on the new sites they are looking to start over the next 12 months or so, and I can then sit down with my area managers and the commercial team and look at the different prospective projects to ensure we have resources in the right areas to cope with any of the work which comes our way.

“I will then meet with Andy Wilson, our Head of Apprenticeships and Development, to look at whether we need to get new apprentices on board to meet the demands of the future projects.”

3.00pm

“Back in Gloucester, I like to ensure I have time in the office to go through my emails and keep on top of any queries.

“I have been in management now for about four years and I love the hustle and bustle of the role and I have a great team around me.

“At the end of the day, you’re only as good as the people you have around you and if they work well for me and I support them, they support me.”

After work

“I’m a family man, so my time outside of work is spent with my wife and my little boy, but I do like to get on the golf course when I can.”

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Pushing the

Skills Agenda Our dedication to apprenticeships is not just the number we recruit and the standard of training we provide, but our commitment to promoting investment in construction skills nationally.

Last year saw the highest number of new homes registered in a three-month period since 2007 according to the NHBC. More than 43,500 houses were registered for July to September 2018, which is great news for the construction industry, but it also highlights the need to ensure we have a skilled workforce to cope with demand.

Here at Clarkson Evans we work hard to promote careers in the industry.

Apprenticeships are the lifeblood of our business and we pride ourselves on the training and support they receive with us to ensure we are creating high quality tradespeople for the future.

at the Home Building Skills Partnership Conference, addressing the issue of recruitment and training.

“We are passionate about the promotion of apprenticeships, not just for our own business but for the future of the industry,” she said.

“Clarkson Evans has been recognised as one of the best apprentice employers in the country and it is vital that we use this industry-leading reputation to help encourage investment in skills and training nationally.

“Whether it is at school leaving age or later in life, apprenticeships offer a route to a well-paid professional career and we are determined to help more people realise their potential by choosing this path.”

Connect Magazine 2019

One of the secrets of our success as an electrical contractor is our apprenticeship programme. We do not simply offer a trade but an opportunity to forge a long-term career with Clarkson Evans.

My role is not just about the promotion of our apprenticeship programme but also ensuring the people we recruit are supported throughout their training with the company.

The bottom line is that apprentices are the heartbeat of Clarkson Evans and they enable us to keep expanding and going forward and winning more work which enables us to create more opportunity for more apprentices.

In 2018, we travelled around the country speaking to around 1,500 industry delegates about the positive impact of apprentices within our business as part of the NHBC Building for Tomorrow ‘Future Skills, Future Standards, Future Quality’ roadshows.

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“I am a man on a mission – to recruit and retain the best apprentices at Clarkson Evans and support the newly-qualified electricians and team leaders.

Interviewing and assessing potential applicants is such a rewarding part of my job and there is no better feeling than when you make the offer of an apprenticeship to someone and see them grasp it and then go on to succeed. You get a real buzz from helping someone achieve their goal.

We have a strong reputation as a leading apprenticeship provider and were named as one of the Top 100 Apprentice Employers in the country at the National Apprenticeship Awards. We are determined to use this as a springboard to help promote careers in our sector nationally.

Lindsey Young, Chief Operating Officer, took part in the events and in November 2018 she was a member of an expert panel

Head of Apprenticeships and Development, Andy Wilson manages the team responsible for recruiting and supporting our apprentices. He describes the role as his ‘dream job’.

There is no other career like mine and I am very honoured to be in the position I am in, helping young people achieve their dream.”

Lindsey Young speaking at the Home Building Skills Partnership Conference

Steve bisp

Matt Royle

Apprenticeship and Development Officer

Terrie Lockett

Senior Apprenticeship and Development Officer

Apprenticeship and Development Officer

Andy Wilson

Head of Apprenticeships and Development

Tiffany Smith

Apprenticeship and Development Officer

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of CLASS 2018

Visit www.clarksonevans.co.uk/connect to see a video of the evenings 24

Connect Magazine 2019

April

October Newly-qualified apprentices were joined by their families to help celebrate their achievements at two glittering awards evenings.

Inviting each graduating apprentice to the stage to collect their award and witnessing them enjoying their moment in the spotlight makes me feel extremely proud.”

Dozens of graduates who completed their training with Clarkson Evans in 2018 were honoured at celebratory presentations at Hatherley Manor Hotel.

“It is fantastic to see how our award-winning training has helped transform the lives of our apprentices, setting them on the right path to a well-paid career.”

In April, host and comedian Justin Moorhouse handed out awards to 24 qualified electrical apprentices and two business administration apprentices.

Since qualifying, many of our staff have bought their first homes, started a family, got engaged or splashed out on oncein-a-lifetime holidays.

He returned in October to hand out a further 21 awards to newly qualified electricians. Two business administration apprenticeship graduates were also honoured. They have since moved into permanent roles in our commercial and HR teams.

The qualified apprentices were full of praise for their mentors, family and friends for their support during their training and are excited about developing a career with Clarkson Evans.

Nathan Evans, MD, said: “As a former Clarkson Evans apprentice myself, I know first-hand how hard our staff work to qualify.

We look forward to seeing them grow and develop within the company in the years to come.

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Putting the fun in

Fundraising

From firefighters and football to magic and mountaineering, staff at Clarkson Evans have gone the extra mile to help raise money for charity in 2018

Big push to help Gloucestershire hospitals We took dress-down Friday to a whole new level, wearing our pyjamas to work to raise money for our charity of the year.

2018 saw us continue to support the Cheltenham and Gloucester Hospitals Charity and so far, £10,000 has been raised over the last two years.

We’ve baked cakes to sell at the hospitals and had a World Cup dress up day. We even wore our nightwear to work to support the mammoth Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service’s Bed Push, raising money for county's oncology centre at Cheltenham General Hospital.

Fire officers pushed a hospital bed to every fire station in Gloucestershire on a 160-mile journey. They stopped off at Clarkson Evans for a quick refreshment break along the way.

Staff wearing their pyjamas to work to support the Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue bed push

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Clarkson Evans also donated £1,000 to the charity to pass on the saving made by ditching our plastic-coated disposable cups in favour of environmentally-friendly ones in our canteen. Staff working on site were given branded insulated thermal flasks instead.

We were delighted to win the Corporate Social Responsibility Award at the Gloucestershire Business Awards 2018 for our work with the hospital charity. Donning our smartest suits and sparkly dresses at Cheltenham Racecourse, we collected the award from Lord Sugar’s adviser on The Apprentice, Nick Hewer.

Magic moment

Pitching in

Inspired by nine-year-old Ashton Thorn, we funded a place on an intensive therapy course for young people who have a form of cerebral palsy.

At the Redrow Homes South West charity tournament in May, our top goal scorer Steve Bisp, Apprenticeship and Development Officer, helped Clarkson Evans’ five-a-side football team win the Plate trophy. Thirty teams took part in the competition which helped to raise £2,825 for ‘We Hear You’ which provides emotional support for families, friends and carers who have been touched by cancer or another life-threatening condition.

The nine-year-old took part in the ground breaking Breathe Magic Intensive Therapy Programme which helps children with hemiplegia.

His parents Trevor and Zoe Thorn, who run Thorn Homes Ltd in Gloucestershire, were so bowled over by his progress that they approached businesses to help fund places on the course.

Clarkson Evans is one of 12 companies which has donated £2,250 to pay for a child to go on the camp. Chairman Steve Evans said: “I’ve known Trevor for a number of years and have had the privilege of meeting his son, Ashton. I’ve seen first-hand how this programme has helped him and it's an honour to support this initiative and help other young people benefit from it.”

Ashton shows us his new magic skills

Supporting bright sparks at school

Peak fitness

Encouraging young people to get into science and technology is vital, so we were only too happy to help improve the classroom facilities and equipment at two Gloucestershire schools.

Staff members, Jamie Clarke, Dan Potter, Aaron Gwilt, Ben Tunnicliff and brothers Anthony and George Clubley scaled the heights in memory of their good friend and colleague Fraser Menzies.

We wired the new purpose-built science laboratory at Churchdown Village Junior School providing power and lighting inside a cabin. The ‘Fab Lab’ has been designed to allow all children at the school the opportunity to participate in a range of practical, hands-on science activities and experiments.

Pupils at Kingsholm Primary School were given a Locktronics set, which helps to teach children about series and parallel circuits, circuit diagrams and current, voltage and resistance.

They climbed Mount Snowdon, the highest peak in Wales, as a tribute to the former apprentice and site supervisor who died suddenly at the age of 32 in November 2017.

The group donned their walking boots and joined Fraser’s family on the hike which took over five hours to complete. The climbers raised more than £2,500 for Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY), a charity chosen by Fraser’s family.

Headteacher Mark Bacon at Churchdown Village Junior School with students and MD Nathan Evans

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Hot Golf and Activity Day

shots

Almost 50 teams got into the swing of things at our annual golf day held at Celtic Manor Resort.

It's not every day you get to play on the championship courses at the iconic Welsh resort which hosted the Ryder Cup. Our golfers certainly made the most of the opportunity, with plenty of healthy competition on the greens and fairways.

In the end, it was the team representing Barratt Homes (Southern), made up of Nathan Sheridan, Rhys Thomas, Liam Gilbert and Chris Matthews, who were eventually crowned the overall winners with a score of 100 points.

This year, there was plenty of action off the course as well, with an activity day for non-golfers including archery, laser clay shooting and adventure golf. It was a closely fought competition, but the Blue Team, captained by Dave Gurney, Senior Commercial Manager, came out on top.

Everyone then got together for an early evening BBQ and prize-giving with after-dinner entertainment hosted by a comical Donald Trump look-a-like.

A raffle was held which raised ÂŁ1,400 for our charity of the year, Cheltenham and Gloucester Hospitals Charity.

After yet another hugely successful year, we are already planning to return to watch video content from Clarkson Evans Golf Day 2017 Celtic Manor again in September 2019.

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Visit www.clarksonevans.co.uk/connect to see a video of the day 29

Day AT the

RACES

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More than 300 staff helped to make our annual trip to Cheltenham Racecourse our biggest and best yet.

We celebrated in style with our own marquee for our guests who came from all over the country to attend the BetVictor Gold Cup Day. It was a brilliant day out and a great chance for us to be able to say thank you for everyone’s hard work over the last year.

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Meteor Business Park, Cheltenham Road East, Gloucester, GL2 9QL 01452 530 336