Summary
Recognising that the construction industry is suffering from a skills shortage, Westridge Construction has focused their community involvement on local education.

Background
Bodiam based Westridge Construction is a construction and civil engineering company specialising in education, healthcare, residential and commercial market sectors.  Westridge has achieved the CommunityMark standard and is an Investors in People company.

How they do it

• Local industry leadership.  For the past several years Westridge has been involved in the local 'Construction Skills Forum,' a sub-committee of the Hastings & Rother task force.  This task force examines current and future staffing needs in the construction industry and helps link with local educational programs to meet this need.

• Involvement with local primary schools.  Westridge employees volunteer as reading partners at three local schools.  In addition the company sponsors incentive rewards for improvement in writing and numeracy at two schools.

• Outward Bound.  Twice a year Westridge takes a group of six children from year 10 on an Outward Bound weekend.  The children return in Year 11 if they achieve agreed targets. 

• Charleston Farmhouse educational program.  Westridge sponsors an educational program at Charleston Farmhouse.  The partnership began because Westridge undertook a refurbishment contract for the trust.

Business Benefits

• Investment in future workforce.  As the company grows they will need to recruit new staff.  Their education focused community programs are designed to address the shortage of skilled labour and to make the company an attractive local employer.
  
• Increased local profile.  Positive media coverage of Westridge's community programs helps the company to become better known in the South East region.  The number of tender enquiries received by the company has increased since beginning the community program, a reflection of increased customer awareness of the company.