Essex County Council secures Essex Housing Awards

A view of a 5 houses being built on a development

We have secured three Essex Housing Awards for our work on partnerships, skills and transport strategy.

At the awards ceremony on Thursday, Kickstart Essex won the award for Construction Skills, focusing on its efforts in creating work placements within the sector.

Kickstart is targeted at getting young people across the county into job placements, as well as offering them support and training. Since it launched, over 78% of the young people involved have been helped to a secure job or apprenticeship at the end of their placement.

The Mid Essex Rough Sleeper Initiative Outreach Service received the Working In Partnership award at the ceremony.

The project was started in 2019 by Chelmsford City Council and Maldon District Council, working in partnership with CHESS, and has grown through its success to include Essex County Council and four other districts.

The 2022-25 fund is being targeted at offering local support for those who are homeless. This will include providing additional outreach workers, support to access mental health services, emergency beds and funding to help homeless individuals with rental deposits.

The third award was received by the Harlow Gilston Garden Town Transport Strategy, which won the Building Garden Communities category.

The Harlow Gilston Garden Town Transport Strategy worked around current and evolving transport behaviours and set out plans for future travel and growth for the new garden town communities, and across Harlow.

Lee Heley, Corporate Director at Tendring District Council and former Head of Housing Growth at Essex County Council, was also recognised in the Housing Professional of the Year category.