Russell Marlow Painting and Decorating
Name: Russell Marlow Painting and Decorating
Address: 55 George V Avenue, Worthing, West Sussex, BN11 5SE
Apprenticeship Award: Micro Employer
Sector: Construction
Russell Marlow has cultivated a small business with a big commitment to personal and professional development and a philosophy that revolves around extending opportunities to all.
The current staff team includes two employees with hearing problems and a profoundly deaf apprentice. Indeed, all the firm’s apprentices have learning difficulties or disabilities of some description or have suffered experiences that have left them particularly vulnerable.
Based on the south coast, in Worthing, Russell also believes in recruiting from his local community - and sets a great example when it comes to bringing more women into the still male-dominated construction industry.
The firm’s philosophy isn’t one that has evolved over time, rather it was designed at the outset to build a company that would benefit the community and one in which young people would buy into and perpetuate Russell’s values. Ask him what apprentices bring to a business and you’ll get a very long list of qualities and characteristics from energy and enthusiasm and the desire to learn and improve to good teamwork, fresh ideas and fun!
For Russell, growing his own workforce and making a commitment to their ongoing development has led to a loyal, close-knit, increasingly self-managing team. It’s also led to a very high standard of work and an excellent reputation built on customer satisfaction that goes beyond the job done to the people doing it – friendly, thoroughly reliable people who get on well with their customers, respecting their property and encouraging a refreshing level of trust. It’s a business that is flourishing despite the economic climate.
Russell Marlow works with Chichester College on Apprenticeships and even enrolled on an evening course in painting and decorating there himself, so that he could better understand the qualifications his apprentices work toward. The company has also been working to gain Investors in People accreditation and recently signed the Skills Pledge, after which it drew up its first annual training plan giving new responsibilities and setting new goals for all the team.
Russell Marlow also offers work experience to young apprentices on ConstructionSkill’s CITB scheme – and will be taking on one of this year’s cohort as a fully fledged apprentice once they finish school.
Last Updated: 10/03/2010