A night at the Old Bailey

For many years – 23 in fact – Keltbray has held an important relationship with MOLA (Museum of London Archaeology). In facilitating their work we have helped to ensure that the archaeology uncovered on development sites across the UK is properly excavated, recorded and studied, so that generations to come can learn more about our rich past.

This partnership has led to some incredible discoveries, including one of the largest collections of Roman artefacts from any single site, at 8-10 Moorgate, and the remains of the Deptford Royal Dockyard, the most important Royal Dockyard in Tudor England, set up by King Henry VIII.

We’ve also worked together on the creation of an Archaeology Traineeship, exchanging people and skills between Keltbray and MOLA to help address the shortfall in construction and archaeology professionals by looking outside the established routes into these professions, which are not always accessible to everyone.

Last Thursday (10 October 2019), representatives from Keltbray, MOLA and the wider construction and archaeology sectors came together to celebrate our achievements so far.

One achievement we’re particularly proud of at Keltbray is the work we’ve been doing to help one group return to work: ex-offenders. It was not a coincidence therefore that last week’s event was held at The Old Bailey in London – a pillar of our judiciary system and the first step towards rehabilitation. And we like to think we can help them with their final steps.

Keltbray has always believed in giving ex-offenders a second chance and we’re proactive in enabling them to have access to our employment opportunities.

As well as delivering CV workshops, mock interview sessions and regularly attending job fairs in five different prisons in and around London, we also work with Bounce Back, a resettlement organisation that offers construction training and employment support in many London prisons.

Keltbray has supported Bounce Back for many years and developed a great working partnership. We were one of the main employers to take part in the pilot ‘Out For Good’ programme, a programme which linked employers to suitable candidates before they were fully released.

When our Training and Development Director Holly Price was asked by Brendan Kerr, our CEO, 14 years ago to visit a prison and look at an initiative that might help solve the problem of rehabilitation of ex-offenders and address our industry’s imminent skills shortage, she had no idea how remarkably successful the programme would be.

People are our greatest asset and our work with ex-offenders, and other groups with limited access into employment, is only making us stronger.

#wevaluepeople #wevaluerelationships