CONSTRUCTION company Woodhead has revealed its nominated charity for 2015 will be educational organisation SkillForce.

Employees from the Nottinghamshire-based construction company chose SkillForce, which is a charity that inspires young people to achieve at school and succeed in life, from a shortlist of worthwhile organisations.

Fay Paterson, Business Development Manager at Woodhead, said; “We decided that it was important to work with a charity that was a good fit with our company values and that we felt we could support well through the course of the year. We also wanted to involve our employees and ask them to vote for the organisation that they most wanted us to work with. I’m delighted that our staff chose SkillForce as we will be able to work closely with them to help develop local people and deliver some great community projects.”

SkillForce works primarily with ex-forces personnel who are trained and employed as instructors and are able to put their skills to good use. The instructors often come from similar backgrounds to the young people they are supporting and are able to empathise with them and become positive role models. The programme uses activity based learning to engage, prepare and develop young people and help them find a way to achieve and succeed.

Throughout 2015 employees from Woodhead will undertake a variety of fundraising events and initiatives to support the charity and will also take part in a 24 hour community project through the SkillForce Prince’s Award.

The Duke of Cambridge has been the Royal Patron of SkillForce since 2009 and launched the Prince’s Award as a unique opportunity for the young people we work with to get involved with community projects. The Award recognises excellence and rewards those who have been inspired to succeed and make a positive and permanent change to the lives of others.

Chief Executive of SkillForce, Peter Cross OBE, said: “It’s brilliant that Woodhead’s employees have chosen SkillForce to be their charity for 2015. Our national head office is in Nottinghamshire, and so I am thrilled that we can do exciting and worthwhile work together so close to home.”

Fay continued: “Supporting local community and charitable causes is something that is particularly important to Woodhead and we will also continue to support local homelessness charity Framework as we have done for a number of years through supporting events such as their annual golf day and World Homeless Day.”