The sweet smell of success - Flower Skills and Training
Flower Skills & Training specialises solely in the construction sector. With huge investment in new projects across London, including vital infrastructure to support the 2012 Olympics, the need for qualified and professionally trained construction workers has never been higher. In September 2005 Ken Livingstone announced that around 7,000 additional construction jobs will be created in preparation for the Games alone.
Established in March 2004, Flower Skills & Training offers practical training in construction skills, as well as being an accredited centre for the Construction Skills Certification Scheme, vital as proof of competence before workers are allowed to work on site. The company also offers English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) and more general skills training to help people into work.
Originally based at START Woolwich in the Royal Arsenal they have expanded rapidly as a result of rapid growth in the construction industry. The company therefore needed to find a new and larger site quickly to keep up with the demand for their courses.
Gateway to London's Role
In April 2005 Gateway to London were presenting to the Lewisham Business Breakfast Club when Benita Ager, Director at Flower Skills & Training approached them with the company's pressing need to find new premises.
The solution proved to be an example of where Gateway to London can add real value.
Earlier in the month, Gateway to London had met with a company called Stone Foundries, based in Charlton, about their own needs. The MD, Alan Alderton had mentioned that the entire ground floor of his office block was empty and that he may be interested in renting it out.
Linking the two companies' requirements it quickly became clear to Gateway to London that a suitable solution could be arranged for Flower Skills & Training with the 9,000 sq ft of space available at Stone Foundries. Gateway to London therefore brought the two companies together, facilitated the project moving forward and also assisted with a number of other issues including planning permissions.
The building was zoned for industrial rather than educational use, therefore requiring planning consent for change of use. With the support of Gateway to London, planning permission was issued by Greenwich Council in June 2005 and a deal concluded for Flower Skills & Training to occupy the site later that month.
The Company's View
Benita Ager, Director, Flower Skills & Training
'When I first approached Gateway to London I thought I had exhausted all the options in finding a site in the area for us to expand into. I was thrilled therefore when days later Gateway to London got back to me suggesting the site at Woolwich Road and arranging for us to meet with Alan to see whether the idea would work. The team at Gateway to London have been brilliant throughout, especially in facilitating the meeting with the planning authorities. I can't believe how quickly and relatively painlessly it has all gone, and we have Gateway to London to thank for a lot of that!'
Outcome
The premises in Woolwich Road, Charlton have now been completely renovated with new heating, electrics and lighting installed. Flower Skills & Training are fully operational on the site and currently have around 60 young people (school years 10 and 11) and 45 adult students participating in a variety of courses each week.
In addition to taking on new staff and expanding their client base, the company was recently nominated for the Business of the Year by the Bexley Local Business Education Partnership.
Meanwhile Stone Foundations are thrilled to have found a good tenant for the site, especially with the move happening so quickly and without the need to have advertised.
