At Tritax Symmetry we recognise our responsibility to communities and the environment we're developing in. We therefore adopt a holistic approach to creating energy efficient buildings, sensitive to the climate, environment and local communities. We believe that the approach to sustainable development must be tailored for every project to meet the needs of the client and the requirements of the project stakeholders.
As part of all of our schemes, we are committed to exploring a range of measures to improve skills and training opportunities for the local workforce. To us, a critical part of this process involves promoting the value and opportunities that a career in logistics offers, and inspiring the workforce of the future.
We seek to foster positive working relationships between our developments and the pipeline of young talent being nurtured by local schools and colleges who share our ambitions. Currently we have an agreed Vision Statement with Bicester Technology Studio and North Warwickshire & South Leicestershire College, and are always seeking new opportunities for collaborative working.
Flexibility is key, and specific commitments can be tailored to the needs of all parties. Typically, our shared visions involve:
We have agreed an educational and work experience partnership with Bicester Technology Studio, which specialises in providing students aged 14-18 with opportunities for vocational training in engineering and business, with a focus on the logistics sector, alongside mainstream academic study.
Collaborative initiatives include giving students tours of the symmetry park site at various stages of construction and providing them with specialist presentations to aid their studies. After completion, Tritax Symmetry will encourage its suppliers and occupiers of the site to partner with the school and provide apprenticeship opportunities.
Speaking about the partnership, Richard Taylor, Principal of the Bicester Technology Studio, said:
“A close working relationship with Tritax Symmetry is hugely beneficial to the school and with our vocational focus, we are always keen to forge new links with local employers. Opportunities for work experience and apprenticeships are immensely valuable to our students, providing the hands-on experience they need to get straight into work when they leave us.”
“By signing a Joint Vision statement with Tritax Symmetry, we are committing to ensuring that the Bicester Technology Studio will be at the forefront of using the Symmetry Park development as a platform for training the workforce of the future and equipping our young people with the range of skills they require to succeed in a career in logistics.”
The synergies between logistics developments and education providers are clear, but are not being utilised to their full potential.
We are proud to have partnered with North Warwickshire and South Leicestershire College (NWSLC) to foster positive working relationships across our Midlands schemes and the pipeline of young talent that they are developing.
North Warwickshire and South Leicestershire College supports around 12,000 students in full and part time study, apprenticeships, higher education, professional courses and distance learning, delivering courses and training on a nationwide basis.
Speaking about the Partnership Marion Plant, OBE FCGI, Principal and Chief Executive, North Warwickshire and South Leicestershire College, said: “The logistics sector has risen to many significant challenges during 2020 and there is no doubt that the sector’s performance underpins the success of the UK economy. Our partnership with Tritax Symmetry will help to ensure that businesses can benefit from individuals with the knowledge, skills and behaviours that drive efficiency, productivity and growth.”
Ride High Riding Centre and Ronald McDonald House have been chosen as the company’s charities for the next two years.
Ride High was set up by Rachel Medill MBE in 2008 to help change children’s lives for the better using horses. The charity transforms the lives of disadvantaged children by giving them the opportunity to learn to ride and look after horses and ponies, effecting lasting change in their attitude, wellbeing, self-confidence and life prospects so they become happy, confident young people who are positively engaged in the outside world.
Ride High works with children aged 8-17 in Milton Keynes, particularly those living in the most deprived areas for whom there is no or little support available. Open to the public for riding lessons, liveries and parties, the equestrian centre’s profits all go towards supporting the 80 local children that visit every week.
Ronald McDonald House Charities UK has been operating for 30 years, since construction began on the first House in 1989. The best medical care for your child isn’t always close to home, and families often find themselves travelling long distances to be with their child in hospital.
The charity’s vision is for every child in hospital to have their families close by, and to ensure families are fully supported in their Houses and remain actively involved in their child’s care. This means that families can be by their child’s bedside in a matter of moments, whilst maintaining a degree of normal life and reducing emotional and financial strain.
The 12 Ronald McDonald Houses in the UK are located as close as possible to a specialist children’s hospitals across the UK, including in Manchester, Birmingham, Oxford and London. Every year the charity helps over 6,000 families stay close to their children in hospital.
Thank you for your support. If you would like to make a donation, please visit our JustGiving page.
We are very pleased to have supported Sam’s Rehabilitation Fund and Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) as our ‘Charities of the Year’ for 2021.
Over the last 12 months our team has pulled out all the stops, by embarking on a number of fund-raising challenges and events to raise an impressive £37,105 for Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity and Sam’s Rehabilitation Fund exceeding our initial target of £15,000. A huge thank you to everybody who has supported our chosen charities.
In 2020 we announced SUDEP Action as our first ‘Charity of Year’.
Tragically 21 people with epilepsy die each week in the UK and roughly 600 people with epilepsy will die suddenly with no obvious cause. This is called SUDDEN UNEXPECTED DEATH IN EPILEPSY, or SUDEP.
SUDEP Action is dedicated to raising awareness of epilepsy risks and tackling epilepsy deaths including Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy. They are the only UK charity specialised in supporting and involving people bereaved by epilepsy.
SUDEP Action provides families with crucial services including bereavement support, counselling and help with understanding the inquest process. In collaboration with UK research teams, this contact with the families also enables SUDEP Action to update the Epilepsy Deaths Register and support professionals in furthering their research into the condition.
Over the course of 2020 we held various virtual events and challenges to help raise money for SUDEP Action and are delighted to announce that our total fundraising in 2020 was £18,039, exceeding our initial target of £15,000.
We undertake a varied programme of events across the year to raise money for local charities and assist in projects that they are undertaking. A selection of recent activities is provided below:
Supporting Ride High
Our Northampton team has been helping at the local horse riding centre charity, Ride High in Milton Keynes, which supports disadvantaged children.
The team carried our tasks including with cleaning, rubbing down walls and giving them a fresh lick of paint.
Ride High is a registered charity, that was set up nine years ago by Rachel Medill MBE which helps transform underprivileged children’s lives through interaction with the ponies – improving self-confidence, attitude and life prospects.
Open to the public for riding lessons, liveries and parties, the equestrian centre’s profits all go towards supporting the 80 local children that visit every week.
In the summer, we supported a golf day which was set up to raise funds for Steve Burne Rooms. The charity was set up by architect and friend Steve Burne to raise £250,000 to create five new rooms at the Ronald McDonald House, which will be used by the families of poorly children.
The Manchester team completed a gruelling 10k tough runner at Arley Hall to help raise more funds for the charity. Thanks to the amazing amount of money raised, the rooms have already been built and are in use – a fantastic achievement to everyone involved.