NEWS FROM THE TREES GROUP

 

3 NOVEMBER 2009
 

YOUNGSTERS STRIDE FORWARD WITH FIRST FLEET DEAL 
 

Young trainees in Leicester are putting their career prospects into top gear following the first-ever fleet service deal between two social enterprises.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 STRIDE, which provides training and a trade for the long-term unemployed, vulnerable, disadvantaged, and those just leaving school, is to maintain all the commercial vehicles for Newlife Regeneration and Construction.

Newlife, which includes the landscaping operation Ground Control, is part of TREES (Training, Regeneration, Education, Employment, Sustainability Services Limited), the largest social enterprise group in the East Midlands.

The 14-19-year olds employed at STRIDE's service and repair garage in Leicester will be handling regular servicing and repairs for the fleet under the supervision of experienced mechanics.

The TREES fleet includes 19 vans and pick-ups of different makes extending in size from a small Ford Transit Connect to low-wheelbase high-sided Transits.

With each vehicle clocking up an average of around 28,000 miles, the fleet plays a major role in transporting workers and equipment to construction sites throughout the region.

Up to six trainees from the STRIDE garage will be honing their experience on the Newlife fleet, making use of a professional three-ramp workshop to handle any mechanical job from replacing a gearbox to stripping an engine.

John Montague, Chief Executive of TREES, said: "We are delighted to have made this commercial decision for STRIDE to handle all our van servicing and repairs. The deal is a perfect example of two social enterprises in different sectors, but with complementary needs, coming together to benefit the community."

"STRIDE is providing us with a professional service that also includes an extremely useful door-to-door collection and return service for our vans that minimises disruption to our business. In turn its trainees get to learn a trade on real customer vehicles to a real business timescale at a real commercial rate, which should lead to the creation of new jobs."

Phil Saunders, Managing Director of STRIDE, said: "We have up to 25 trainees working at the garage on any one day, all working towards gaining NVQs in automotive vehicle maintenance, servicing and repair. Our aim is to provide them with the best possible skills and experience in a proper working environment that leads to paid employment, either with us or with another garage."




www.thetreesgroup.org.uk