Top marks for RSBi’s new learning centre

A unique learning centre designed by visually impaired workers has been launched by one of Scotland’s leading supporting businesses.

The facility, at Royal Strathclyde Blindcraft Industries (RSBi) in Glasgow, was officially opened today (Tuesday, October 4) by Jamie Hepburn, Minister for Employability and Training, following a £30,000 refurbishment.

RSBi, which is operated by City Building Glasgow on behalf of Glasgow City Council, designs and manufactures a wide range of high quality furniture for major construction contracts. More than half of its 260 staff have a disability, including visual and hearing impairments and learning disabilities. 

City Building, the arm’s length firm set up by Glasgow City Council, generated £5.29m in returns to the city council, to be reinvested in services across the city, its annual results published this week show.

The financial results for 2015/16 reveal the funds returned to the city council are up 5.8% on last year’s figures, despite a fall in turnover from £215m to £209m.

The news comes as City Building, which employs over 2,000 people, prepares to finalise a 50/50 joint venture with the Wheatley Group, the parent company of Glasgow Housing Association. Both organisations signed up to the joint venture earlier this year in a move which will guarantee jobs and create thousands of apprenticeships over the next 20 years.

Glasgow’s City Building LLP apprentices have shown their backing for The Prince & Princess of Wales Hospice’s Brick by Brick Appeal to build a new hospice in Bellahouston Park – in bricks and mortar.

The big-hearted staff at the organisation, long-time supporters of the hospice, have raised £10,000 after holding a charity football match, golf tournament, sponsored walks and bake offs.

They pledged to raise the money after joining the hospice’s innovative 50/10 Club – a group of 50 businesses each raising £10,000 to pay for the atrium area in the new build.

“This is a fantastic donation which will have a lasting effect on our new hospice,” said Heather Manson, the hospice’s director of fundraising.

Leading Scottish construction company, City Building, has rewarded the tradespeople of tomorrow at its 10th annual Apprentice Awards, which took place on Wednesday 1 June.

81 apprentices from across all sectors of the business including, construction, administration, heating and painting and decorating were shortlisted for the awards at the City Chambers in Glasgow.

24 awards were handed out at the event which saw 2nd year apprentice painter and decorator Lisa Murphy named City Building Apprentice of the Year in addition to winning the 2nd Year Painter and Decorator award earlier in the evening.

A leading Scottish construction firm has organised a series of trade taster sessions to encourage young people from ethnic minorities to consider a career in construction.

City Building worked in partnership on the initiative with Black and Ethnic Minority Infrastructure in Scotland (BEMIS), to engage with minority groups and encourage individuals to take part in the taster sessions. Other organisations involved included West of Scotland Regional Equality Service (WSREC), the largest of Scotland’s four Regional Equality Councils and the Youth Community Support Agency.

A new £2.7billion partnership between Scotland’s largest council and the country’s biggest social landlord will secure jobs for the next 30 years, it was announced today (25 February).

The joint venture between Glasgow City Council and Wheatley Group, parent company of Glasgow Housing Association, means Wheatley Group would take a 50% shareholding in City Building Glasgow, becoming a partner and joint owner. It will secure 2000 jobs and more than 2000 apprenticeships as well as sustaining employment for disabled workers at City Building, the council’s successful arm’s-length construction company that has returned £50m to the council to date and undertaken 1000 craft apprenticeships.

A leading Scottish construction firm has been presented with a prestigious employment accreditation for its efforts to prepare young people for the world of work.

Cabinet Secretary for Fair Work, Skills and Training Roseanna Cunningham, presented the City Building team with their Investors in Young People (IIYP) Gold accreditation during a visit to the company’s award-winning training centre at Queenslie earlier this week.

The gold accreditation is the highest level any company can achieve in the IIYP framework, which aims to support organisations looking to recruit, retain and develop young people.

A team of young apprentices from one of Scotland’s leading construction firms has helped bring British designer, Paul Smith’s highly anticipated fashion and design exhibition to life.

Thirteen apprentices worked on customising space in The Lighthouse, Scotland’s Centre for Design and Architecture in Glasgow to accommodate “Hello, My Name is Paul Smith” a touring exhibition by the Design Museum, London, which launched in the city last week. The exhibition traces the designer’s development from the early 1970s until present day.

One of Scotland’s most successful supported businesses has made their commitment to fair employment official as they mark a milestone anniversary.

Royal Strathclyde Blindcraft Industries (RSBi) has signed up to the Scottish Business Pledge – a commitment to paying staff the Living Wage and fulfilling other equality enablers.

The company manufactures quality furnishings for major contracts and has over 50% staff with disabilities, including Forces veterans.

Leading Scottish construction company, City Building, has presented two charities with £10,000 each following successful fundraising activities.

The cheques were presented to Cash for Kids and Kidney Research UK at Glasgow City Chambers following a charity golf day jointly organised by City Building, and the Lord Provost’s and International Office.

City Building selected Cash for Kids and Kidney Research UK to receive these funds as part of its community engagement programme allowing the firm to give something back to the city.