Amey, the company working in partnership with Birmingham City Council to manage and maintain the city’s road network, is celebrating as employee, Martin Fagan, became the 150th member of staff that the company has helped back into work from long-term unemployment.
Martin, who is now employed as a Highway Maintenance Operative, found employment through the Amey’s partnership with Birmingham City Councils Employment Access Team. The partnership aims to recruit workers who have been long-term unemployed into roles working on the city’s streets.
Martin had previously been employed by the City Council and by traffic management company Traffix, but more recently had spent two years unemployed while he cared for his mother.
During his time with Amey, Martin has already worked within a number of teams on a range of activities from street lighting to weed spraying and he has even gained qualification certificates for the safe use of pesticides. He is now aiming to develop his skills within the company further. He said:
“I would like to make a career at Amey. I thoroughly enjoy working for the company and am proud of the work that I do”.
Shilpi Akbar Assistant Director for Employment at Birmingham City Council said “It is fantastic to see the 150th local unemployed person to be employed on this major contract. This is a real achievement and success story of working together for the good of Birmingham’s long term unemployed. In addition we have supported the recruitment of over 35 apprentices through the Charter on behalf of Amey”.