Recycling department nominated for national award

An innovative partnership between the Job Centre, CT Skills and the local air ambulance has been nominated for a prestigious national award.nnThe Air Ambulance Service, which provides air ambulances for Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Rutland, Northamptonshire and Warwickshire, was nominated for the Best Partnership award in the National Recycling Awards 2017.nnHead of recycling Justin Thompson said: “It’s a fantastic achievement to be nominated for such a prestigious award. Our charity recycling department has been going from strength to strength, and to be recognised with a national nomination is a real testament to the amazing work done by our team and our charity.”nnThe partnership saw two local organisations join forces with the air ambulance to help get the air ambulance’s pilot door to door recycling collection scheme off the ground.nnThe air ambulance needed skilled people and training to achieve their new recycling project. CT Skills joined up to provide training, while the Job Centre found people interested in the opportunity.nnAn open day was held for interested candidates at the air ambulance’s Kegworth office, attracting over 70 people to get a feel for the charity.nnThanks to the partnership between the different services, 54 of those were then able to be enrolled on a BTEC in customer service, giving them a qualification no matter what. They were all then interviewed for positions in the recycling team at the air ambulance service, and 40% of them now work for the charity, as well as having their BTEC in customer service.nnJustin said: “We then had a capable and trained workforce who knew what was expected of them, and we knew they were reliable and dedicated individuals because they attended the training course  every day to gain their qualification.nn“We are very proud of everything we’ve achieved with our work with the Job Centre and CT skills, and thrilled to be nominated for ‘best partnership’ in the National Recycling Awards.”nnTo learn more about your local air ambulance service, volunteering or our recycling scheme, call 03003 045 999 or email [email protected].