About Building Futures | Building Futures

In this section you will find more detailed information by clicking on the following links in the image

A. Building Futures Programme Overview – Road Map

Keepmoat is a leader in delivering community regeneration across the United Kingdom and is passionate about creating vibrant, sustainable communities where people are proud to live and work.

Our success is founded upon our expertise, people and capacity to deliver a diverse range of innovative and quality products and services.

We provide a comprehensive and flexible package of housing support services to help build strong, dynamic and sustainable communities.

Our Under Graduate Placement Scheme will offer you the opportunity to develop the skills you have learnt at university in a practical environment, as well as learning several new ones to include: communication, planning and organising, problem solving, teamwork, confidence and networking skills.

We will be seeking applications from students based in the following regions:

Yorkshire: Regional Office Doncaster
North West: Regional Office Manchester
North East: Regional Office Newcastle
Midlands: Regional Office Coleshill

It would be expected that students will be placed within the region that they are studying.

Student Benefits

Apply the theory gained through your studies in a commercial or professional environment
Acquire knowledge and experience to underpin studies in the later stages of the course
Acquire practical, interpersonal and business skills needed in the workplace
Develop an appreciation of management skills
Provide experience on which to base future career plans

You will receive:

A highly practical placement experience
A comprehensive development programme
An allocated Mentor
A performance development and evaluation process

‘My degree taught me what I know; my undergraduate placement taught me how to use it!’

The programme follows a very clear path;

Students formally apply to the Programme
Shortlisted candidates invited to Assessment Centre
Successful candidates invited to final interview
Placement offers made
Pre-start packs issued
Placement starts
Induction – followed by 9 months site based and 3 months office based work placement
Development Programme

B. Selection Process

Applications
Short listing
Assessment centre
Final interview
Placement offers

1. Applications
Higher Education Institutions will be informed of our placements. They will inform eligible students and direct them to our website where they can download application forms.

2. Short Listing
A short list of applicants will be invited to attend an assessment centre.

3. Assessment Centre
The 1 day assessment centre is an opportunity to assess your strengths and areas for development in an open, transparent and objective manner.

It will include a team related exercise, a bespoke in-tray exercise based on a realistic construction site based scenario and written exercises.

Successful candidates will be put forward for final interview.

4. Final interview
Following the assessment centre successful candidates will be invited for interview at their regional office.

5. Placement offers
Following final interviews candidates will be contacted and informed of the selection decision.

C. Pre Start

Prior to the placement students will be able to access a comprehensive Pre start Information pack.

You will receive login details to enable you to access and download this information.

The Pre Start Pack will provide you with the following detailed information required prior to start.

INDUCTION PROCESS
COMPANY & PEOPLE
OFFICE SERVICES, IT & QMS
HEALTH & SAFETY
EQUALITY & DIVERSITY
SUSTAINABILITY
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
OBJECTIVES

D. Work Placement

Building Futures is a very practical programme providing you with hands on experience to apply your knowledge and develop your skills in the workplace. All students will be site based for 9 months. This will be followed by a 3 month office based placement where you will gain experience of other disciplines within the business.

You will receive a full Company Induction. At this point you will be allocated a Mentor who will support you throughout your placement.

Whilst on site you will report directly to the Site Manager who will be responsible for allocating your duties and providing you with support to maximise your learning and development experience.

Under Graduate Site Training File.

Whilst on site you will be expected to complete the Under Graduate Site Training File to support your technical development.

The procedures and disciplines of this development training file are designed to ensure that you receive a comprehensive introduction to the whole Build programme from safety through to legal completion.

You will be expected to use this file to build up your experience and collate evidence. Files will be monitored regularly by your Site manager. This will also be supported by quarterly performance review meetings with your Mentor.

Areas covered

Safety
Sub Structures
Drainage and services
Superstructures – Brickwork
Superstructures – Joinery
Roofs
Joinery 1^st Fix – Pre Plaster Check
Plumbing – Pre Plaster Check
Electrical – Pre Plaster Check
General – Pre Plaster Check
Service Installations
Plastering
Kitchen Installation
Decoration
External works
Pre NHBC Final inspection – Internal

E. Building Futures Development Programme

When students join Keepmoat their Site Manager and Mentor will set objectives for the year through the performance development planning process. Training offered will be tailored to meet individual needs.

Through their day to day role and interactions a student’s personal skill base will be developed throughout their placement year. These include: communication, planning and organising, problem solving, teamwork, confidence and networking skills.

In addition Students from each region will be brought together to participate in a full and comprehensive development programme:

Overview of Programme Content

Psychometric feedback
Establishment of Personal Development Plan
2 day residential Induction Module
3 x two day Modules across a 12 month period
I day Evaluation workshop
Action Learning Sets
Technical development
Self-directed learning
Mentor Support
Evaluation & Learning History

1. Psychometric feedback.

You will receive 1:1 Feedback on the assessments undertaken during the assessment centre
Establishment of Personal Development Plans

2. Two day residential Induction Module

Introduction to the development programme
Establish the Action Learning sets
Team Building exercises
Finalise Personal Development Plans. PDP’s will be monitored and reviewed throughout the placement

3. Three x 2 day Modules
The following behaviours, competencies, knowledge and skills, will be covered within the development programme and will be linked to your PDP’s Principles of success

How learning takes place.
Action planning – using your time well
Leadership
Teamwork
Motivation
Communication Skills
Assertiveness & Confidence

4. One day Evaluation and Review
Students make their end of programme presentations to the Senior Management Team.

5. Action Learning Sets (ALS)
ALS are work based business improvement projects which provide cross functional opportunities to learn about other aspects/areas of the business.

They run in parallel to the taught programme
They consist of groups of about 6 students
Groups will be given a significant current business issue to work on throughout their placement. They will be required to present their project brief to the Board.

The ALS’s decide when to meet outside the taught programme; however they will be given some time at the end of each 2 day taught module to update on their ALS project.

6. Technical Development
Technical development, as highlighted in a student’s Personal Development Plan, will be primarily work based and will link closely to the completion of the Under Graduate Site Training File.

7. Self-directed learning
You will be given additional development tasks to complete to support your learning and development:

Collation of Learning Log
Written reports in collaboration with college requirements

8. Mentor Support.
You will be assigned a personal Mentor who will work closely with you to review your progress and provide support.

Your Mentor will ensure that you have the work based opportunities to develop your skills and experience.

9. Evaluation
A key component of the Programme is to have in place mechanisms to measure your progress and achievements.

The following evaluation methods will be used;

Directors will assess the value and impact to the business of the Action Learning Sets.
Performance reviews with Line Managers and Mentor.
Learning History. This will involve building a learning log evidencing development and recording examples of application in the workplace. The Learning history will be signed off by your Line Manager.
Comprehensive Personal Development Plans which will be reviewed quarterly.
One day Evaluation workshop.
Review day presentations – Delegate presentation to the Directors.