A South Wales company has become the first to sign up for expert equality and diversity support from a major training programme, which aims to put Wales at the forefront of sustainability expertise in the built environment sector.
Swansea-based Concepta Energy Ltd received free equality and diversity performance support from the EU-backed Built Environment Sustainability Training (BEST) project.
BEST’s equality and diversity officer, Natasha Owens, also provides businesses with toolkits, good practice templates, training and policy reviews to help them adopt or improve ways of working around diversity and inclusion.
“The BEST programme helped our business with bespoke human resources material and training, ensuring we stay ahead with our business matters, “ said Steffan Evans, Concepta Energy’s managing director.
“With some elements of HR and employment law being complex, Natasha worked hard to deliver training in these areas. I’d recommend the BEST programme to any organisation, big or small.”
Ms Owens added: “Concepta Energy see the value of undertaking this business development work, in order to ensure an inclusive working environment for their current and future employees and customers.”
BEST’s equality and diversity support is free to companies in Wales’ Convergence areas, as part of more than £2.8m of European funding.
The support process begins with the completion of a short online survey to establish baseline performance. This will take approximately 10/15 minutes to complete and can be found online at: http://www.best.cf.ac.uk/about-best/equality-diversity
Alternatively, companies can contact Natasha Owens, to arrange a meeting to complete the survey in person or over the telephone.
BEST is coordinating a major programme of flexible, subsidised training to develop knowledge and skills in the latest sustainability practices – particularly in construction, energy, waste, and water. Supported by the European Social Fund, through the Welsh Government, BEST training courses will be offered to people who live or work in one of Wales’ Convergence areas, from autumn 2013 until July 2015.
BEST is bringing together outstanding training providers to deliver training which will benefit businesses, employees, the environment and the economy of Wales, with training for people such as energy assessors and advisors, architects, planners, engineers, maintenance teams, surveyors, site supervisors and other related roles.
Training will be designed to be flexible through delivery outside of working hours and/or online, in order to minimise inconvenience and time away from work.
Training providers, employers and individuals who are interested in finding out more, should visit www.best.cf.ac.uk or phone 029 2087 0990.
