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This Armed Forces Week, we remember and pay tribute to the sacrifices made by men and women from the United Kingdom. We are proud to support the Armed Forces and the work they do to protect the UK both at home and overseas. At Barratt, we feel extremely lucky to have ex-Armed Forces personnel in our ranks. Individuals with a unique blend of skills and experience, alongside talent, drive and leadership abilities, have been a perfect fit for work in construction. On behalf of everyone at Barratt, we would like to say a massive thank you for the service the Armed Forces have and continue to provide for our country.
Although we may not be able to celebrate in the way we wish to for Pride Month, it's important to encourage and support our LGBT+ colleagues and friends. This year marks 51 years since the Stonewall uprising which has helped lead to the many LGBT+ rights we see today. As a Stonewall Diversity Champion, we're endorsing inclusion at all levels of the organisation. For those interested in joining, we work with diversity job boards such as Vercida. At the other end of the spectrum, we ensure that all directors and middle managers attend an Inclusive Leadership Course so that everyone can put their best foot forward. Click on the link to find out more information about our involvement with Stonewall:
This year's Volunteers' Week, we couldn't be prouder of our employees who have gone above and beyond to help local communities. We've seen those on furlough assist at food banks across the country, help out neighbours and provide vital support to frontline services. Our Special Leave Policy enables all employees to spend a day volunteering for a good cause of their choice. Earlier in the year, some of our teams got together to freshen up the courtyard at the Dogs Trust in Loughborough. A paw-sitive outcome for all! Keep up the brilliant work - we look forward to hearing more volunteering stories.
We were one of the first to adopt and sign the new Charter for Safe Working Practice, developed by The Home Builders Federation and Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. With around 300 sites now reopened, it’s important that we get back to building those much needed, high quality new homes as safely as possible.
This year's Mental Health Awareness theme is 'kindness' and in light of everything that's going on, we're doing our best to support the overall wellbeing of our employees. We understand that everyone is dealing with the current situation in their own way and may be affected in different areas of their lives. That's why we're providing colleagues with access to fitness apps, sleep guides and '60 second skills' sessions to aid relaxation and switch off from work.
When we're so used to interacting with colleagues in person how do we adapt to communicating with and leading teams from afar? Our very own Learning & Development Manager, Ed, has been designing and delivering online sessions to help teams align and grow. "In such different times, we have to learn to do things differently; the use of technology has ensured Barratt employees are able to access the type of learning and topics they want at this time. Thinking differently about what we do has meant that we are able to provide the best of what we do in a way that enables our colleagues to continue to learn and grow at this time wherever they are, " says Ed.
As we begin a phased restart of our construction sites, keeping people safe is our number one priority. Since we temporarily closed sites in March, we’ve taken the time to create new and enhanced working practices and protocols, changing the way we work and how our sites look and operate. Working with our employees and partners, we are now ready to get back to building the high quality homes and sustainable places we need, as safely as possible.
We’re a long-term supporter of the charity Whizz-Kidz which has recently featured in a BBC Lifeline Appeal. The film provided a great opportunity for everyone to get to know some of the young people and families they have been able to help. "Working with Whizz-Kidz has really opened my eyes to some of the barriers to independence that wheelchair users face in society," says CEO, David Thomas. We’re committed to matching the first £30,000 raised by the appeal, which has already been reached!
We are extremely pleased to announce that we have been awarded the Home Builders Foundation (HBF) 5 Star Home Builder Status for the 11th year in a row. We would like to say a massive thank you to everyone who helped make this possible and please, stay at home and stay safe.
COVID-19 has presented many challenges that can have negative effects on our health and wellbeing. As an employer, we want to provide all the support we can to our employees to protect their mental health. To keep spirits lifted we are offering a variety of health and wellbeing activities ranging from advice for parents, to reflecting on our emotional state. For those looking to challenge themselves or learn new skills, we’re also providing a series of online modules and webinars designed to support ongoing learning and development.
