Blog: SECBE Awards 2022 finalist - Apex Lift & Escalator Engineers Ltd

23 March 2022

People Development sponsored by Cheesmur Building Contractors

Apex Lift & Escalator Engineers Ltd

People Development Constructing Excellence SECBE Awards 2022 finalist

Apex Lifts is an independent, family-run, SME business within the lift industry; as a result, is striving to be a leading force in terms of education, knowledge sharing and change.

At Apex Lifts they are immensely proud to have established their EAL (Emta Awards Ltd) Approved Training Academy in 1976 and to nurture this throughout the businesses progression and operation of 50+ years. It is viewed as an achievement and act of service to the wider lift industry to have seen so many successful candidates pass through its doors having obtained their qualification and to commence their career journey at Apex Lifts.

New opportunities are always offered to the Apex workforce with job opportunities promoted internally prior to going to recruitment agencies/external recruitment methods. This alone allows employees to upskill and gain experience across the business’ entirety. Some examples include, Grace Cousins – Insurance Sales Coordinator who began her career at Apex in 2018 as a Service Coordinator. Grace has upskilled and utilised her pre-existing administration, organisational skills and general understanding of the industry to apply this to her new role.

Apex's investment in people development has proven beneficial in terms of employee engagement, evidenced through multiple Apex Lifts staff members who have spent 25+ years with the organisation – encompassing office, engineering and manufacturing facility based staff. Including, Apex Lifts’ current Managing Director, Warren Jenchner, who also began his career as an apprentice lift engineer prior to continuing to leading the business into the future.

Apex Lifts’ inclusion and diversity policy is embedded in its hiring process, ensuring the company remains an equal opportunities employer. Apex's policies are reviewed on an annual basis to highlight any advancements and enable the organisation to remain up-to-date with current affairs and societal changes. As an organisation within the construction industry/environment, Apex Lifts supports applicants from BAME backgrounds and strives to avoid gender-bias employment with the continual attendance to local schools/colleges and commitment to the Mayor’s Fund for London Diversity Pledge to promote careers within industry.

Apex Lifts encourages employees to become involved in being an advocate for not just the company alone, but for the industry in its entirety. A key example of this is the company's Social Value & Marketing Consultant who dedicates time both inside and outside of working hours to attend local school/college career fairs, CV workshops, mock interviews and to deliver presentations on apprenticeship opportunities within the industry – continuing to promote positive personal and career development beliefs.

As an SME business, Apex have employed 11 apprentices since 2016. A log of apprentice’s progress with percentage trackers is kept, reviewed at quarterly HSQE meetings and, it is ensured those who complete their apprenticeship are commended. It is through the apprentice intake and progress tracker that Apex Lifts can provide insight to its succession plan and continuous flow of qualified engineers to the lift industry.

Key achievements:

• Establishment and continuation of the Apex Apprenticeship Scheme since 1976.
• Maintaining a long-term and cross-skilled workforce with multiple members of the team having been with Apex Lifts for 25+ years.
• Working collaboratively across the business to ensure equal opportunity and progression.

Find out who wins at the Constructing Excellence SECBE Awards 2022 Ceremony on Thurs 30th June 2022.

Find more about Apex Lifts:

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About the People Development Award (sponsored by Cheesmur Building Contractors): 

People are our greatest asset and this award recognises organisations that appreciate and nurture their workforce to ensure they maximise the value of everyone’s contribution to the business. By creating inclusive workplaces which support people of all abilities through training initiatives, education, mentoring, support networks and innovative programmes, companies can demonstrate a significant impact on the future of their businesses and the wider construction industry. More info

>> Find out more about the other Constructing Excellence SECBE Awards finalists here