CLARK Contracts has been awarded gold accredited membership via The 5% Club’s 2023-24 Employer Audit Scheme.
The award recognises the firm’s significant contribution to the continued development of all employees through ‘earn and learn’ schemes such as apprenticeships, graduate schemes, and sponsored students course placements.
Founded by Leo Quinn, CEO of Balfour Beatty, in 2013, The 5% Club was launched to address poverty arising from high unemployment, particularly among the young, as well as a shortage of the right skills for the workplace of today and tomorrow.
The Employer Audit is a unique scheme which validates the employers’ activities, explores their future plans and commitments, as well as examining their approaches to quality, social mobility, diversity and inclusion.
Gordon Cunningham, MD of Clark Contracts, said, “We are proud of our investment in our employees, which is why we first joined The 5% Club back in 2015. We formed our Academy in 2006, and since then have supported over 300 apprentices and trainees into the construction industry, a number of whom have progressed to senior positions within the business. This accreditation recognises and reinforces our commitment to the continuous training and development of our people.”
Mark Cameron OBE, chief executive of The 5% Club, commented, “Our Employer Audit scheme recognises the efforts of all those Employers who invest in their workforce through a broad range of workplace learning schemes. It is fantastic that in these challenging times so many are able to commit to the Employer Audit and to gain the credit for their efforts, and that the majority are striving to expand their schemes over the coming years. Their efforts and achievements are to be applauded.”
Gill Cronin, director of operations at The 5% Club, added, “Having seen The Club grow to more than 900 members, I am always impressed at the commitment, drive and energy our members channel into offering “earn and learn” skills opportunities. To now see 20 percent of these members gain bronze, silver, gold, and platinum accredited membership of The Club is inspiring and demonstrates how these companies are all contributing to the future of skills in our economy.”
