Morrison Answers SOS Call

When Clare Fitzmaurice, a plumbing student at Riverside College in Halton, made a live appeal on BBC Radio Merseyside for a work experience placement, leading repairs and maintenance provider Morrison was quick to respond.

Clare's radio plea came after she had written to over 80 companies applying for a placement without success. On hearing this SOS, Morrison's Community Development Manager Brian Gates swiftly contacted the radio station to offer Clare an interview.

In Merseyside, Morrison provides repairs and maintenance services to over 11,000 homes across North Merseyside on behalf of Riverside Housing Association from its base in Bootle.

Within three days of her appeal, Clare had attended a two day induction at Morrison and has now commenced her placement, which will see her spending two days a week working alongside experienced plumbers until the completion of her course.

Clare Fitzmaurice, said: "After trying so hard to gain a placement, I was so happy to feel I had been given a chance to further my experience with a company like Morrison and after looking at their website, I found that not only was I being given the chance to complete the necessary parts of my course; but that Morrison was a fantastic company with a forward thinking approach to how they operate. I cannot express how lucky I feel that Morrison has given me this wonderful opportunity."

Clare continued: "I was invited into the Morrison office only to be greeted by very professional and warm people, who made me feel right at home. I have now completed the Passport to Work training programme and am looking forward to getting out on the tools this week."

Brian Gates, Morrison North West Region Community Development Manager, commented: "It was a real stroke of luck that I heard Clare's appeal on the BBC but her story immediately struck a chord, which is what led me to get in touch.

"It was only when I later spoke to Clare that I realised how determined she really was to become a plumber and this is when we decided to pull out all the stops to assist her in achieving her goal. Morrison is totally committed to the training of young people through its apprenticeships and work placements and I am delighted that we are able to help Clare gain the valuable experience she needs for her future career."