Member Article

Homes deal creates jobs

A home refurbishment programme is creating jobs and training opportunities for North East people including an Afghan veteran.

For Marc Jary, 37 and from South Shields, the job means a happy return to Civvy Street after six months with the Territorial Army in the Middle East.

He said: “I was struggling to find work after my stint out there so this opportunity means everything to me. It is something I have done before and like doing, so it’s been a real Godsend.”

Marc, who has a young family, is among seven people taken on by AH Property Services to carry out improvements to 500 South Tyneside homes. The contract also safeguards two apprenticeships with the North East based property maintenance specialist.

In addition, the company has taken on its first ever Resident Liaison Officer, Mel Jeavons. Her role is to be the link between the teams carrying out the refurbishment and the people living in the homes, so that they understand the process, are prepared for the disruption and have a contact for queries.

She said: “I love meeting with tenants on a day to day basis and building relationships with each of them in order to provide them with the best possible service. I equally enjoy working alongside contractors from a variety of trades, helping to ensure that each gets the job done efficiently and to the best possible quality. Working towards changing people’s homes and lives gives me a great sense of achievement and pride.”

AH Property Services is also teaming up with Harton Technical College to give students valuable work experience in a range of disciplines, as it begins the project in South Shields.

Working on behalf of South Tyneside Homes, the company will rewire and install new kitchens, bathrooms and heating systems to the homes over the next eight months as part of a £2 million improvement programme.

Business Development Director with AH Property Services, Keith McDougall, said: “We have carried out improvements to thousands of homes around the region as a sub contractor to larger firms but as we grow ourselves, we have begun to secure work as a main contractor directly with new clients.

“This is a project which, as well as allowing us to grow further and create work opportunities for local people, will improve the quality of life for our clients’ tenants.”

As people will remain in their homes during the improvement work, details of the carefully planned programme need to be communicated to them and support given throughout the process.

AH Property Services operates from a head office on the North Tyne Industrial Estate in Newcastle and a base at the Riverside Industrial Park in Middlesbrough.

Contact with local schools will also be made to highlight safety issues and demonstrate career opportunities in construction. This may also include work placements being offered to local students.

Councillor Jim Foreman, Lead Member for Housing and Transport with South Tyneside Council, added: “I am delighted that AH Property Services is working with South Tyneside Homes to deliver homes modernised to a very high standard.

“As well as providing investment and employment opportunities in these challenging times, the works are helping to transform the lives of the residents on the estates in question.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Paul Dobbie .