Dedication to employment opportunities

CMS Window Systems has been recognised for its dedication to providing employment opportunities for young people, and the role it is playing in addressing construction’s skills shortages, by winning in the Skills and Training Academy Awards by Scottish public-private development partnership hub South West.

The award for Best Employment Initiative for Young People was presented to CMS Window Systems in recognition of its dedication, achieved through its long term strategy, to providing training opportunities and career paths for young people from all backgrounds. This has included attaining over 100 modern apprenticeship qualifications since the company’s inception in 2006, more than any other window and door manufacturer of its kind.

CMS beat off the competition to win the approval of judges on the criteria of youth employment, the introduction of construction as a viable career path, structured framework apprenticeships, graduate programmes and initiatives targeted at women, as well as disadvantaged and disabled people. In addition to reducing youth unemployment and NEET (not in education or employment) rates, these kinds of initiatives are crucial to addressing the skills shortage right across the construction sector, the company said.

David Ritchie, CEO of CMS Window Systems, said: “To be recognised for our dedication to providing employment and career opportunities for young people is an honour and a credit to all those involved. Our recently launched CMS Academy has been a particularly exciting development, enabling us to offer a comprehensive and structured training programme to even more apprentices in future.”

Michael McBrearty, chief executive of hub South West, said: “The skills shortages we have within our sector are all too well-known and these awards mark an important new phase in our partnership’s commitment to raising the bar within the industry. In addition to supporting our commitment to engaging local communities, the small and larger firms involved with hub South West also strive to play their part in tackling wider skills issues across the industry. It is only fitting that we should applaud their efforts.”