Fusion21 wins at HCA Awards

Fusion21 won the HCA Awards ‘Investing in Skills’ sponsored by the Chartered Institute of Housing at the prestigious awards ceremony held in London.

The procurement organisation’s programme is not dependant on any public sector funding, and is a self funding model that uses the investments of its clients and partners to bring about efficiency savings and job creation in local communities.

The model was praised by the judges for its longevity given the current serious pressures on public finances. Fusion21 was a unanimous choice of the judges in the HCA Awards’ Investing in Skills category. The judges were also impressed with the partnership working involved in the scheme.

Fusion21 ensures that money that is planned to be spent by social housing organisations on improvement and maintenance works is used to bring about a particular outcome – namely to get the unemployed into work – at no additional cost.

Jayne Crosse, head of strategy, marketing and performance at the Homes & Communities Agency’s placemaking directorate, said: “Fusion21 has a strong and well established partnership approach, which was clear from both the public sector housing organisations’ and the private sector employers’ commitment to the scheme.

“The way in which Fusion21 has managed the recruitment process took the hassle out of taking on apprentices for the employers- this is what made the apprenticeships happen. The scale and success, and funding model of the programme made it stand out above the other schemes in the category. What was impressive about the scheme was its transferability. It is a model that does not depend on grants and could be replicated across the country.”

The award recognises Fusion21’s achievements in placing over 600 trainees in permanent jobs over the past 8 years and the potential for their model to pay dividends in the future.

“This award is a testament to the effort and enterprise of all our partners, social landlords, Contractors and suppliers”, said Chris Murray, Fusion21 Chair.

Jan Agger, head of skills at Fusion21 added, “We are extremely pleased to have won this important award. This recognition demonstrates that working with Fusion21has a real added value for our clients and partners, we have shown that together we can really make a difference to local communities.”