At Kirkman and Jourdain Ltd, we are proud to announce that we have joined The 5% Club, an industry-led initiative dedicated to increasing “earn and learn” opportunities across the UK.
As a construction and building services company based in Waltham Abbey and operating across London and the South East, we understand that the quality of our work is built on the skills, dedication, and development of our people. Working across schools, public buildings, social housing and healthcare environments, we see first-hand how important it is to invest in the next generation of skilled professionals who will shape the future of our industry.
The 5% Club is a network of more than 1,000 employers committed to creating apprenticeships, graduate programmes, T-Level placements and sponsored student opportunities. Members commit to ensuring that at least 5% of their workforce is made up of individuals on formal early careers programmes within five years, while also reporting on their progress publicly.
We have already demonstrated our commitment to supporting young people through supporting apprentices for over 25 years. We operate a trade apprenticeship and trainee business admin programme already above the 5% industry norm – helping individuals gain valuable practical experience while building rewarding careers within the industry.
Joining The 5% Club reflects our belief that nurturing new talent is essential to the long-term sustainability of both our business and the wider construction sector. We’re excited to be part of a network that champions skills, development and meaningful career pathways.
Mark Downey, Managing Director of Kirkman and Jourdain Ltd commented: “Many of our team members started their careers with us as apprentices, and today they play key roles across our business. That journey is something we’re incredibly proud of. Being part of The 5% Club strengthens our promise to keep opening doors for the next generation and to support them with the training, guidance and experience they need to succeed.”
Gill Cronin, Director of Operations at The 5% Club, said: “We’re delighted to welcome Kirkman and Jourdain Ltd into membership. The 5% Club provides a fantastic network of HR and L&D professionals, sharing and learning from each other. All our members share an ethos of creating a skilled workforce through ‘earn and learn’ development programmes, helping people develop meaningful career paths.”
Founded in 2013, The 5% Club brings together organisations from SMEs to FTSE-listed businesses across a wide range of sectors, all sharing the same belief that skills development has a meaningful social and economic impact. Find out more: https://www.5percentclub.org.uk/
Written by Tracey Parker