Shropshire-based residential home, Hendra Healthcare (Ludlow) Ltd, is a prime example of how investing in the workforce can reap substantial rewards. The company, which was formed in 2002, has already won numerous awards including Best People Manager in Shropshire 2004, Investors in People Accreditation in 2005 and Best Company for Customer Satisfaction in Shropshire 2006 & 2007. Hendra believe that it isn’t a coincidence that these achievements have been awarded since they became involved in Apprenticeships.
Hendra House is a family-run residential home which currently employs 35 people and is headed up by Managing Director, Vince Burmingham, who is an advocate of effective staff development as a key tool to achieving pre-determined corporate objectives. Vince has spoken to fellow employers on numerous occasions about the benefits of developing effective staff teams in order to survive and grow, particularly in the current economic conditions.
Hendra Healthcare believes apprentices provides businesses with raw talent which can be nurtured and developed into highly dedicated and loyal individuals with the knowledge and skills to meet and address the challenges and opportunities which may occur in the future.
Vince Burmingham elaborates, ‘Apprentices bring new ideas and beliefs and they challenge the way in which we’ve done things in the past. As a result of this we’ve changed some of our operating procedures and introduced new facilities for the residents. We now have a Nintendo wii and a webcam so they can keep in touch with family members living abroad. All of these initiatives improve the quality of service which we deliver to our residents.’
Many of Hendra Healthcare’s former apprentices have developed beyond recognition and now hold positions as team leaders and senior care assistants. One former apprentice is even studying for a degree in Health and Social Care as a direct result of the confidence she gained whilst undertaking her Apprenticeship.
Vince Burmingham sums up the contribution apprentices continue to make to his award-winning organisation, ‘Apprentices are like a breath of fresh air, they bring so much to the business. The Apprenticeships programme is a very important part of the jigsaw that makes Hendra House the place it is today and has been instrumental in the success of the company.’