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New Directions Holdings Ltd Welcomes Sophie Cecil

ruth.dalton — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 11:56:58 +0000

New Directions Holdings Ltd is pleased to welcome Sophie Cecil as Group Human Resources Director. Sophie joins the team from the MITIE group of companies – a UK FTSE 250 business that has been running for over 23 years.

Sophie’s role within New Directions will involve reviewing and responding to current policies and procedures and employee engagement. Sophie comments “My mission is to ensure that the company is one that all employees want to work for. We believe in succession planning, and offering a comprehensive CPD programme to all of our staff. As the company grows from strength to strength we have to adapt and evolve to ensure our most important resource is equipped”.

New Directions Holdings Ltd has recently received accreditation for their management development programme through the Institute of Leadership and Management. Sophie and colleague Victoria Deane, Group Learning and Development Manager have mapped the programme with the University of Glamorgan.

It is anticipated that the programme will be offered to staff from April 2012.

As the group works towards Investors in People (IIP) status, ensuring a sounder business for the future, Sophie will be trying to ensure that New Directions employees feel valued.

New Directions Appoints Head of Social Housing

ruth.dalton — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 11:08:05 +0000

New Directions Social Housing division will concentrate on providing support to the sector with the appointment of Steve Peake, former business director for Hays Specialist Recruitment.
Steve comments “I am delighted to join the New Directions team to launch this division of the business. As one of the government’s priority sectors in recent years, it is vital that Wales continues to invest in this hugely important sector. We have already had some really exciting discussions with key stakeholders and feedback is extremely positive”.
Steve joins the group as Head of Social Housing after 16 years with Hays. During his time there he progressed from consultant to business director, as a direct result of his passion, dedication and investment in the business.
Jeff Tune, Chairman of New Directions adds “The social housing sector throughout Wales has huge progression plans; whether that is maintenance and upgrading of current stock or new build and we want to support that. As a leading welsh agency, we want to support the economic welfare of the country ensuring economies of scale are adhered to, Steve brings this to New Directions for this sector”.
Wales currently has in excess of 100 housing service providers, as well as 22 local boroughs providing social housing. New Directions Social Housing division will focus on the core services of social housing by concentrating on recruiting for housing management, sheltered housing, supported housing and assets & property maintenance staff.

Steve Peake Head of New Directions Social Housing

Wales gets £1.4bn jobs and housing bonanza

dsamedialtd — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 14:26:51 +0000

Article shown below was issued in the Western Mail, for full article click here

AN INVESTMENT in social housing totalling £1.4bn over five years will regenerate some of Wales’ most deprived areas and create thousands of jobs, the Assembly Government said yesterday.

Around £1.4bn investment is being pumped into a scheme which aims to revive some of the poorest parts of Wales.

Leighton Andrews, Deputy Minister for Regeneration, launched a report commissioned by the Welsh Assembly Government into the opportunities presented by the Welsh Housing Quality Standard (WHQS).

The Assembly Government requires local authorities and registered social housing landlords to upgrade their housing stock to meet WHQS by 2012 and to maintain this standard.

The WHQS-plus report by Savills highlights the opportunities this investment will create and how local benefits in jobs and training can be maximised.

The report covers 12 local authority areas in South Wales where more than 95,670 homes need to be upgraded. The £1.4bn will be spent over the next five years creating 2,700 job opportunities as well as supply chain business for local companies.

Speaking at the i2i housing regeneration conference yesterday at the Rhondda Heritage Park in Trehafod, Mr Andrews said, “The scale of the investment, the demand for new trainees and jobs and the fact that work will be taking place in the most disadvantaged communities could come together in a golden equation.

“But it won’t happen automatically. All of us from the Assembly Government outwards have a responsibility to work together to get this right if we are to deliver for our people and communities.”

Mr Andrews said organisations such as RCT Homes, Bron Afon in Torfaen and Monmouthshire Housing were about to start spending serious money and creating new jobs. He went on, “We’re now at a critical stage – within weeks tenants in the Rhondda Cynon Taf authority area will start to see the first wave of the largest investment programme in their homes in a lifetime. It is probably the best chance we’ve ever had to turn things around.

“The research undertaken for the WHQS-plus report will inform how we plan support services – from developing training programmes to small business support from mentoring trainees to providing on-going employment support.”

The report will also help contractors and small businesses to understand the scale and pace of the workload and the opportunities it presented.

Mr Andrews said he was “particularly keen” that the opportunities would enable existing social businesses to expand and encourage the creation of new enterprises.

He said a social enterprise in Leicester had become, with initial assistance from Leicester Housing Association, an independent, self- sustaining business, with an annual turnover of £8m, employing more than 140 staff, and reinvesting its profits back into regeneration areas.

Jocelyn Davies, Deputy Minister for Housing, said, “The achievement of WHQS is a good example of where a single policy implementation has a much broader impact on people’s lives, it may include not only improved living conditions but training and employment opportunities for their families, improved health and wellbeing, better educational attainment all of which are the building blocks for sustainable communities.

National Minimum Wage levels announced for October 2008

dsamedialtd — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 14:12:18 +0000

The UK's adult National Minimum Wage is to rise from £5.52 to £5.73 an hour from October 2008. There will also be increases from £4.60 to £4.77 an hour for 18-21 year olds, and from £3.40 to £3.53 an hour for 16-17 year olds. The rates were recommended and accepted by Government following a report by the Low Pay Commission.

For more information:

http://www.wired-gov.net/wg/wg-wlabel-dti.nsf/wfArticle?ReadForm&unid=11D8C6E03FB6F0B580257403004346F2

Government announces a further £70 million expansion in hostels

dsamedialtd — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 13:27:21 +0000

On the 13th November 2007 a plan was announced to increase funding to hostels from £90 million to £160 million. It is likely that homeless hostels in Wales will benefit from this as the existing £90 million programme has led to a 30% increase in clients moving successfully into training, further education, employment or independent living over the last 3 years.

Wales Fast Growth 50 Awards

dsamedialtd — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 16:42:13 +0000

New Directions are delighted to once again be included in the Wales Fast Growth 50 Awards list.

This will be the 4th time in the last 5 years that they have received this honour.

"Wales Fast Growth 50" recognises the 50 fastest growing companies in Wales.

On Call 24 Hours a Day

dsamedialtd — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 16:41:29 +0000

Call New Directions 24 hours a day, 7 days a week on 02920 390150 during office hours (Monday – Friday 8am – 6pm), or on 07813 711242 (Out of Hours)

All of our staff hold an Enhanced CRB Disclosure, and have been vetted and trained in line with Care Standards Inspectorate for Wales.