News
A Busy Day at RCT Jobs Fair
It was great to connect with so many talented individuals eager to take the next step in their careers.
A huge thank you to everyone who stopped by our booth to speak to
Nathan Sage and
Robert Evans more about the exciting opportunities we have available in construction.
If you couldn’t make it to the fair, don’t worry!
Our team is here to assist you with any career inquiries and help you navigate your job search journey - just drop us a DM
School Visit to St Helen's Primary
A brilliant video from the school visit we did at St Helens Primary School with
Anna Davies
Joan Tamlyn
John Weaver Contractors LTD
Take a look at some creative designs of castles to suit different clients and locations.
Very impressed with the creatively and level of detail shown, inspired by the great work at Caerphilly Castle.
A Site Visit with Job Outcomes
On Tuesday we co delivered a site visit in partnership with Sarah Burge CMB Engineering at hashtag
#FairwaterCommuntyCampus. A great turnout from their supply chain
Churngold Construction Ltd
CMB Mechanical
Dudley's Aluminium
Evans Electrical Ltd
Millisun Brickwork Ltd
Compco Fire Systems Limited
The Classic Group and
SAM DRYLINING LIMITED who each did an industry insight for new entrants.
Massive thank you to all
PeoplePlus UK Cardiff branch who supported their candidates to attend
Kyle Vassallo
Claire Rowlands-Gent from
The Construction Hub Academy showcased how they support individuals on their careers journey.
The session ended with
Anna Davies and
Kristian Cullen presenting the support available from us at Blue Water Recruitment. We have already managed to place some of the individuals into employment starting Monday.
Lighthouse, The Construction Charity
We are proud to support the Lighthouse Charity.
The Lighthouse Construction Industry Charity is the only charity that provides emotional, physical and financial wellbeing support to the construction community and their families in the UK and Ireland.
Wellbeing Champions in the Construction Industry
A huge thank you to
Alun Jones IEP from
Case-UK who visited us today and trained our 19 staff and clients as ‘wellbeing champions’ What is wellbeing champions?
Wellbeing champions is an accredited qualification which ensures staff have the basic understanding of mental health first aid and an of wellbeing and the role of a wellbeing champion. The workshop highlights some of the positive and negative signs of mental health that wellbeing champions should be aware of. The workshop highlights the 5 pillars of wellbeing and discusses how the group can take responsibility for their own wellbeing.
What’s next? - We are committed to making positive action around wellbeing in the industry and are looking forward to hosting more wellbeing events this year with
Case-UK which are also open to our clients.
Want to get involved?
Contact our head of social value
Anna Davies for more information on our upcoming events. Contact
Alun Jones IEP or
Sarah Hanney to start your partnership with
Case-UK who also provide in work support to employees FREE. Huge thank you to staff at
SACYR UK & IRELAND
Korbuild Ltd
Encon Construction Ltd who joined us today.
Jolly Brew Crew Sponsorship Session
Are you looking to support a great initiative in the Gwent area?
Here is a great opportunity to join us in supporting the amazing positive action that Jack Griffiths has started in the Newbridge area with his men's health group
#JollyBrewCrew
The community is deeply effected after a friend sadly took his own life in December. Jack has been proactive by providing a much needed men's health group with engaging speakers in an accessible central venue at
NEWBRIDGE MEMO LTD on a monthly basis. Over 60 men attended January's session.
Blue Water Recruitment Limited is sponsoring this months session which is this Sunday at 6:30pm and delivered by
Lloyd Ashley
How can you help ?
- Come along to the session (It is open to all)
- Sign post
- Sponsor venue hire for just £36 a session
- Sponsor a speaker
Get in touch with Jack directly to be part of something special and hopefully see you there on Sunday !
Bespoke STEM Career Sessions
As well as working on exciting and meaningful projects as part of our own social value we also support our clients in achieving their outcomes.
Our head of social value is especially passionate about not providing a one size fits all approach to STEM delivery. We work with key partners to deliver sessions that meet the needs of the pupils. See below where we recently delivered a session linking football with employability skills.
We also work with our clients to produce STEM career insights that highlight their current projects and careers.
Do you have school engagement / stem targets ? Partner with us today to achieve high quality social value outcomes.
Teaching Skills with Oreo the Therapy Dog
Teaching construction skills with Oreo the therapy dog ! 🐶 🏗️
Yesterday,
Robert Evans and I visited a PRU unit as part of a construction skills project with
Cardiff Commitment, lead by
Gareth Macarthy MAEd.
Nyth y deryn is a school dedicated to supporting secondary-age learners who require additional help with their social, emotional, and behavioural needs, or who need extra mental health and wellbeing support. They work closely with learners to create bespoke, personalised learning plans that address their specific needs.
Oreo the spaniel (and my new favourite co-facilitator) has made a huge impact in the school and to the pupils behaviour and wellbeing.
We kicked off the first of many sessions where pupils will use STEM, employability and construction skills to plan and build an agility course for Oreo.
Teaching skills linked to a topic that the pupils are passionate about in an interactive and engaging way meant that engagement and behaviour was excellent. I was especially impressed with how the pupils who don't usually work in a class room environment were able to work together.
Yesterday we covered;
- What is agility and the benefits to dogs and humans.
- We broke down how to plan a project and what we need to consider.
- We came up with some ideas of equipment needed.
- We assembled hurdles and weave post with the use of STEM, problem solving and team working skills.
- Oreo has a taster on his new equipment.
I am really looking forward to visiting the school further along in the project to see how the pupils progress.
Massive well done to all at Nyth y deryn ! Da iawn !
Vacancies In and Around Blackwood
Do you have any vacancies in and around the Blackwood area?
Contact
Gillian Oliver to connect with some amazing candidates through Maximus Blackwood.
This morning I delivered an ‘Insight into all things construction with
Blue Water Recruitment Limited ‘ to 12 work ready candidates.
With public transport links continuing to be barrier for many valleys based unemployed people it is important that we reach out with local jobs when they are available.
Get in touch with
Gillian Oliver with your vacancies in any sector.
Engaging Women in the Construction Industry
Today I was part of a panel along side
Nicola Millard and
Antonia John sharing our insight of what is going well and what needs changing rapidly around engaging women in the construction industry.
From a recruitment perspective we have female candidates who are absolutely thriving in their role in inclusive workplaces. However, it also important to share the negative side through real experiences that still occur on our sites. Having an honest discussion and raising awareness is how we begin to make a positive change.
Thank you for the opportunity
Kristal McNamara . It was also great to see some familiar faces
Paula Lunnon
Hannah S.
Sarah Bunt
Looking forward to seeing more progress in the coming future.
Interactive Session on Construction and Healthcare
Thoroughly impressed with the enthusiasm, engagement and effort year 5 and 6 pupils across Cardiff put in today for our open your eyes week session.
Kate Hammond and I delivered an interactive session on how construction and healthcare collaborate together and the skills and job roles needed. We delivered two sessions, one in English and one in Welsh.
We used a live example of how
SACYR UK & IRELAND and
Velindre Cancer Service are collaborating to build the incredible NVCC project.
We are looking forward to seeing the final designs the student have produced of ‘the worlds best cancer centre’.
Huge thank you to
Abigail Marks for all your support while we put the session together. Great attendance with over 50 classes taking part.
I’m looking forward to the feedback and future
Cardiff Commitment sessions.
Blue Water Recruitment Success
Check out this article from our second year in business.
We were so proud of our achievements at the time, and continue to be proud with what we're still achieving! From small beginnings, exceeding our targets in year two, to a fantastic team of 14!
Blue Water Recruitment - Company Supporter 2024
The Lighthouse Construction Industry Charity is the only charity that provides emotional, physical and financial wellbeing support to the construction community and their families in the UK and Ireland.
Lisa's Escape from Alcatraz triathlon
Fundraising for Velindre Cancer Centre
Event: Escape from Alcatraz, on 11 June 2023
Lisa and Gary are raising money towards the cost of treatment for Lisa's sister who has recently been diagnosed with breast cancer. She has now started 18 weeks of chemotherapy treatment at a cost of up to £10,000 for each round. To help raise funds for this treatment, Lisa and Gary are taking on the challenge of the notorious 'Escape from Alcatraz Triathlon' which includes;
- Jumping off a ferry for a 1.5-mile swim in shark infested icy cold water in extremely strong currents
- Cycling an 18 mile route around the city of San Francisco, famous for its steep hills
- Running 8 miles of tough multi-terrain and climbing a 400-step sand ladder
Thank you for taking the time to read about our fundraiser. We hope you can support our cause by donating whatever you can afford. Please visit our Just Giving Fund page
here.
Armed Forces Covenant
Blue Water Recruitment Ltd are proud to have signed up to the Armed Forces Covenant. We promise to ensure that those who serve or who have served in the armed forces, and their families, are treated fairly. Click here to view our signed covenant.
We're even more proud to announce that we've won the bronze award. To find out more about the Armed Forces Covenant, please click here. We encourage everyone to take part.
Christmas is a Time for Giving
Every year, Morgan Sindall give back to the communities in which they work. We'd like to shine a light on the fantastic community support projects that help people all year round, and say thank you to them and Morgan Sindall for organising the donations.
Support this year has gone to help a number of community project in Barry:
- Action for Children, Barry
- New Horizons Day Centre and Rondel House, Barry
- School Essentials Hampers
- Cadoxton and Oakfield Primary Schools
- Bigs Bocs Bwyd Project
Blue Water Recruitment Managing Director, Gary Monk, says "It's a privilege to be able to contribute to the amazing work undertaken by local charities to support our local communities. Well done to all involved."
Workways Plus
We love to show our support to anyone that has obstacles in their way when it comes to finding employment, such as ex-offenders. Which is why we work with projects such as 'Workways Plus.' We were even more delighted to get this amazing feedback from Rhianon, a Workways Plus Mentor, about the help we'd given one of her clients:
"I deal with many clients with criminal records, and they are often written off by employers and recruitment agencies. I rang Joe* yesterday and told him about our conversation, and I really can’t put into words how thrilled he was that someone was even willing to give him the possibility of a chance. Although not taking away from the seriousness of his crime, it was a long time ago and it’s not overstating it to say that he is a different man now with very different lifestyle choices. He needs someone to take a chance and employ him so that he can move on with his ‘normal’ life.
It is so refreshing to hear that there are recruitment agencies out there who understand that rehabilitation will only work if people are given this chance to move on. Your attitude was so positive, while managing expectations honestly and fairly that it made my day and really gave Joe a boost and belief that work is attainable for someone like him."
Special thanks to Connor specifically on this one, well done, but we know any member of our team would have been able to support too.
*Name changed for privacy.
Santa’s Little Helper
We are proud to have been one of the Cardiff-based businesses, working with Morgan Sindall Construction on delivering Christmas cheer to schools and a daycare centre in the area. Following on as part of their £29 million Whitmore High School construction project started in October 2019, Morgan Sindall has helped support the established local Food Matters/Bwyd o Bwys project.
The Food Matters/Bwyd o Bwys Project, familiarly referred to as BBB in the schools, was originally set up in 2005 to provide food and nutrition knowledge, practical cooking skills and to encourage ‘grow your own’ allotment schemes. It now has stepped up to help with food boxes for those not in work, needing free school meals and others who have been unable to do their own shopping during lockdowns since March.
We, and other local companies, all found time out of the busy work period leading up to holiday closures, to help with Morgan Sindall’s service to the community. We were out around the area delivering essential fresh food and staple groceries, plus extra Christmas treats to Oak Field Primary School, Ysgol Gwaun Y Nant and New Horizons Day Service at Hen Goleg Resource Centre, Barry. As you might expect, this year the service has been needed more than ever. The charity, Child Poverty Action Group states, “30% of children live in households below the poverty line (after housing costs)” and these food hampers are desperately needed.
The schools and daycare centre took collection of the cheerful, over-stuffed hampers, and distributed them to those attending the centre and families of children, through the schools. While dropping off seasonal hampers Santa’s Helpers were photographed beside the stacks of goodies and handing over a few surprise presents too, to happy staff as they prepared for Christmas.
Nadolig llawen pawb! Happy Christmas to all!
Communities For Work
Very proud to support initiatives such as this. All 3 contractors mentioned were recruited by us:
"A partnership between one of Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council’s employability programmes and the company building the town’s new bus station has resulted in four long-term unemployed people finding jobs.
Through the Council’s Communities for Work (C4W) project, a Welsh Government initiative that helps people overcome barriers to employment, contractor Morgan Sindall has taken on the new staff to support the business during the 18-month construction period."
You can read the full article here.
Kay the Builder!
Hi - my name is Kay. I'm 46 years old and I work in construction. Yes I am a lady!
When I first started on a building site I honestly didn't know what to expect but I was pleasantly surprised! I wasn't treated any different to the men that worked there (yes, I had a few strange looks off people as I wore my hard hat, work boots and big high-vis coat) but that didn't really bother me...
To see a waste land turn from nothing but mud into a beautiful building is truly amazing. To know I helped get that building up and standing makes me proud. Whether you're a cleaner, a labourer, a ground worker or a manager, we all helped in some way.
The bond you get to have with your co-workers is like family and this is why I love my job as a construction worker. Females can do everything a man can do be it driving cranes or mixing cement. We are all same.
Hope to see you lovely ladies working with me soon!!
Work Ready Course at HMP
For those of you that are unaware of this programme, 'Work ready' is a 4/6 week course run by HMP Cardiff, teaching offenders skills which are needed to be ready for work on the outside. Basic construction skills, running CSCS tests and interview technique and skills.
Blue Water attend the prison and run mock interviews with offenders. We also educate them about the construction industry and what they are to expect if they choose to work for Blue Water when they leave the prison.
We attended the last Work Ready course of 2019 at HMP Cardiff in December and have just received the most amazing feedback. It's great to know that the work we're doing is having such a positive impact on people's lives, and that with the right support and training, everyone can flourish.
This amazing feedback is from one the Work Ready teachers:
"Thank you for all the support that you have given the gentlemen who have completed the Work Ready Course this year. The impact that you have had on individuals lives has been incredible to see. I cannot thank you enough for the support you have given to assist the gentlemen when they go ‘Through the Gate’ and beyond."
I popped out the other day and on my return there was a gentleman who was shouting across the road at me. I looked back and saw a young lad in high vis clothing where they were doing scaffolding work. The gentleman came running across the road and only half way across did I recognise him from the Work Ready Course, he grabbed by hand and shook it vigorously, smiling from ear to ear and said “Thank you so much for everything, the Work Ready Course really works!! You have changed my life and I have a full time job now and can provide for my family, I can’t thank you enough!” My reply to him was instant – “No, YOU have changed your life, YOU turned up every day, YOU embraced the content of the course and YOU made contact with the organisations upon your release.
Blue Water have helped individuals to believe in themselves, that they are worth something and that they can make a change! Thank you so much and I look to continue working with you in the new year."
We look forward to working with you too.
Raising Money for Bowel Cancer UK
Our resident runners, Lisa & Gary, have yet again competed in an amazing event. Both ran in the Cardiff Half Marathon and completed the course in a fantastic 2 hours!
The pair ran on behalf of Bowel Cancer UK, a charity close to their hearts and in need of much-needed funds. Thanks to Michael Locke for the invitation to represent such a worthy cause.
Talks in the Community
We were recently invited to speak to Year 10 pupils at St Cenydd Comprehensive school about the fantastic opportunities within the construction industry.
At Blue Water, we are always looking at new ways to link with the community and to help young people find a career in construction. We work with many industry specialists and local government projects to make this happen.
Operations Manager, Robert Evans, would like to say a special thank you to Mike Little of Morgan Sindall for partnering with us.
We Did It!
We're so proud to have taken part and completed the 2019 CARTEN100. A great turnout from team Blue Water, 2 fantastic charities supported, and some fun (and sweat!) thrown in.
Thanks to all that took part, see you next year?
Winners of the Leading Level of Chwarae Teg's
Fairplay Employer Award!
December 2018 saw Blue water Recruitment receive this prestigious award. We could not be more proud because we continually strive to be the best employer we can, so to receive such fantastic recognition is amazing!
Here's what Chwarae Teg have to say about our award:
"Our passion at Chwarae Teg is to create a Wales where women achieve and prosper – and we know that creating workplaces where this can happen takes commitment, drive and an inclusive approach to doing things – one that benefits not just women but all employees.
The 10 areas contained within our Business Culture Survey© are the areas that foster the right conditions to help women join, develop and remain in the workplace as productive and motivated employees. Of course the areas foster diversity throughout, so it makes good business practice. By taking the unique opportunity to review your business practices through our Business Culture Survey© you have demonstrated your commitment to creating and sustaining a fair and inclusive workplace."
Supporting the local community
Healthy hearts and healthy minds!
Inspiring the young and especially girls to enjoy exercise.
Supporting the Local Community
We're very proud to announce that Blue Water Recruitment will be sponsoring the fantastic fundraising bike ride that is the CARTEN100! This is what CARTEN has to say about the event:
"From four riders in 2004, to a whopping 2500 riders in 2017, the challenge of riding the 100 miles from Cardiff to Tenby has just kept growing, with more and more friends, colleagues and acquaintances. We welcome new riders, as well as those coming back to cycling. CARTEN100 is a ‘not for profit’ fund raising venture, run by volunteers so we can benefit our chosen charities as much as possible.
The ride takes a fairly direct route from Cardiff to Tenby, using A-Roads, B-Roads and cycle routes. There are some climbs, none too difficult, but in Wales there is not a lot of flat land! Riders are encouraged not to rush to Tenby but to enjoy their day, as our philosophy is to get people back onto their bikes by preparing to cycle 100 miles, as well as enjoying a good day out followed by a celebratory drink or two in Tenby. “It is a challenge, never a race”.
Having raised over £1 million to date, this is an important event for Welsh charities. So why not dust off your bike and join us for what promises to be another momentous day?
Supporting the Local Community
Meeting health and safety standards is a crucial part of training for our candidates and something that we treat with high regard. So we feel very proud of our candidates for having been awarded SHE (Safety & Health Excellence) by the Kier Group for their conduct onsite.
Click here to view the award.
