As the UK grapples with a housing shortage, combined with a severe lack of construction workers to meet building targets, the Commercial Window Group’s fabrication business, Emplas, is supporting a pioneering new initiative that addresses both of these issues.
Helping local people to make positive life improvements through the renovation of empty homes, the Community Impact Initiative (Cii) is an award-winning, not-for-profit social enterprise based in South Wales.
Regenerating communities and returning empty properties to the housing market, Cii supports individuals lacking employment or social connection. Its schemes offer participants the chance to
improve their wellbeing, build their confidence and self-esteem, learn new skills, achieve qualifications, and access new career pathways, transforming lives for the better.
“The houses we take on tend to be big projects which would otherwise be left in a derelict or semi-derelict condition,” says Ellen McCubbin , Marketing & Communications Officer, Cii.
“Empty homes have a very negative impact on communities. By breathing new life into them, we’re also improving the communities we work in.”
Supporting people aged 16 years old and upwards, Cii recruits project participants via college programmes or local council referrals. Often young, or lacking social connection, many have struggled to find or maintain stable employment.
Teaching participants practical hands-on skills on live projects, Cii can help them achieve construction qualifications including CSCS cards, supporting them to forge a career within the sector.
“We’re not a construction company, what we do is give people the opportunity to develop new skills, and in the process, renovate properties to fund future schemes,” continues Ellen.
“Some join to get used to the practical skills side of things, and some join to just meet new people and try something different, be a bit more active.
“It gives them a lot of direction. It’s especially important for younger people, fresh out of school or college, not really sure what they want to do.”
Commercial Window Group, through its manufacturing business Emplas, is supporting two flagship regeneration schemes in Merthyr Tydfil and Aberdare. This includes supplying seven windows manufactured in the ultra-energy efficient Profile 22 system, and PVC-U front, back and sliding patio doors, for the property in Aberdare.
1. Sustaining a Legacy
Based in Merthyr Tydfil, Sustaining a Legacy (SaL) is a year-long initiative supporting engagement in climate action with a focus on sustainable construction and energy efficiency.
The project aims to demonstrate how individual and collective actions can have a positive environmental impact, and the proactive steps that everyone can take to improve energy efficiency.
This includes how insulation and energy efficient building materials, including windows and doors, can be used to insulate homes to reduce energy consumption, and have a positive and sustained impact on the climate and environment.
2. Building Resilience in Communities
Based in Aberdare, Building Resilience in Communities (BRiC) is a six-month project aimed at community engagement and improving local spaces.
BRiC has been designed to regenerate empty properties that can encourage antisocial behaviour, crime, and vandalism, and return them to the housing market, increasing supply.
Each project transforms an uninhabitable, severely dilapidated shell-of-a-home into a valuable housing asset. The sale proceeds from completed properties are reinvested into future projects, forming a self-sustaining funding loop, boosted by financial backing from key organisations such as the National Lottery Sustainable Steps Fund and the Commonwealth Fund.
Support from business is also critical because it supports those taking part in developing skills, such as window installation, which could help them develop a future career, as Craig Harris, Cii Tutor, explains:
“Support from businesses like Emplas is vital in making the work we do viable, and supporting people in developing new skills and pursuing an exciting new career, while also returning homes to the community.
“A lot of the people who join the scheme have never really got started after leaving school, either because they haven’t had the opportunity, or something has perhaps knocked them side-ways and they haven’t got back on their feet.”
“We help them to build confidence and skills through practical training. Knowing how to fit a window or door gives them opportunities to progress, as well as a sense of achievement, which in turn helps to restore their inner confidence.
“We take them through the complete installation from rip-out of old windows, to prep, installation, glazing and de-glazing, weather sealing and finishing.”
Jody Vincent, Sales Director at the Commercial Window Group, says: “It’s great to see our network partner, Emplas Commercial, supporting Cii with its vital work in South Wales. The UK is struggling with a shortage of both housing and construction skills, as well as a loss of social connection, and Cii is addressing all these things brilliantly.
“The restoration of dilapidated properties, transforming them back into much-needed homes, is mutually beneficial to project participants, as well as the wider community, and we’re happy our energy efficient windows and doors have helped create these sustainable new dwellings. The fact that a cohort of potential new window and door installers have been trained-up to fit them, is another bonus!”
The Commercial Window Group is committed to working in partnership with housebuilders, housing associations and social housing providers, to deliver exceptional homes.
For more information on the Commercial Window Group’s next generation high performance window and door ranges and our regional delivery partners call 01234 567890 or email [email protected]
