Overview:
Joining Marlborough in April 2023 in the newly created role of Social Value & Sustainability Apprentice, Poppy has made a significant contribution to the company’s social value and sustainability programmes; continually going above and beyond for her colleagues and the communities in which Marlborough serves. Poppy effects positive change through a range of compassionate community initiatives, and by helping Marlborough on its ambitious journey to become Carbon Neutral by 2025.
Background
With a former administration position at a waste management company, Poppy brought some professional experience to Marlborough. But it was her love for good causes and belief that everyone should have access to opportunities, that made her the ideal candidate for the new Social Value & Sustainability Apprentice role. And while a huge amount of industry-specific learning has been required at Marlborough, Poppy has long understood the importance of protecting our planet, with a passion for green initiatives and eco-friendly practices.
Marlborough Highways apprenticeship
Trusted with the freedom to define and develop her role, Poppy delivers a range of social value initiatives, particularly in support of those from marginalised communities, with the beneficiaries including those not in education, employment or training. But it is Poppy’s commitment to helping young people, particularly young women, that has defined her career at Marlborough, by delivering inspirational talks at schools, exhibiting at college careers events, and by taking a lead in the company’s apprenticeship forum, in which she supports fellow apprentices. Furthermore, Poppy has played a major part in the expansion of Marlborough’s volunteering programme, Armed Forces and prisoner engagement schemes, community careers programme, and ongoing charitable initiatives.
Meanwhile, Poppy works across a range of sustainability initiatives in support of Marlborough’s important environmental commitments, Not only is she helping the company to recycle more, to expand its use of renewables, and to move away from carbon heavy construction materials, but Poppy is also recording and analysing project emissions using a pioneering carbon calculator.
Fact file
Marlborough Highways
- Job title: Social Value and Sustainability Apprentice
- Starting date: April 2023
- Department: Social Value & Sustainability
- Location: Head Office, Chelmsford
- Reports to: Social Value Manager / Sustainability Officer
Personal details
- Hometown: Biggleswade, Bedfordshire
- Former education: Stratton Upper School, Chelmsford College
- Previous work experience: Hairdressing position and Dunmow Waste Management admin role
- Interests: Quizzes, reading, gaming, fitness, dance, travel
Apprenticeship
- Institute: Cambridge Marketing College
- Award: Level 4 Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability Apprenticeship
- Length: Two years plus six-month assessment
- Format: One day a week attending college, four days a week at work
- Graduation: September 2025
Skills
- Strong interpersonal skills
- Analytical thinker
- Excellent public speaker
- Expertise in social value and sustainability practice
- Good organisational and time keeping skills
Quote
“Social Value to me means not only working in a community, but also working with that community to improve local spaces, to aid charities, and to support other meaningful organisations. Our school engagement initiatives are a particularly rewarding part of my job, because I get to see the change it makes in young people, especially young women who are sadly underrepresented in our industry.
“Meanwhile, as someone who is passionate about the environment, I am impressed by Marlborough’s sustainability commitments and am proud of the contribution I am making as part of our company’s journey toward carbon neutrality. To me it’s not just a job, but it’s about making a better future for the communities we serve.”
Poppy Kennedy, Social Value and Sustainability Apprentice, Marlborough Highways
Qualification
Poppy is studying for a Level 4 Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability qualification with Cambridge Marketing College. It is one of six ‘Green Apprenticeships’ which are supported by His Majesty King Charles III and were launched as part of the 2023 Coronation celebrations. Poppy is proud of her involvement in the scheme, which is about delivering meaningful CSR initiatives and equipping the country’s workforce with the skills needed to support the transition to Net Zero.
Award
Poppy was named Apprentice of the Year at the 2024 Highways Awards. Read more.
“One of the things I value most is their very collaborative and transparent team culture. It makes a big difference to have a contractor that wants to work closely with us and is supportive and responsive. With Marlborough, I get a team who are attentive, work collaboratively and honestly with me and don’t lose focus on delivering first class communications and compliance.”
“From the design stage, Marlborough has been fundamental in delivering the Broad Lane Square improvements scheme. During the works, not only did the team manage to keep to the programme, but they went the extra mile to ensure attention to detail and came up with innovative solutions to address issues encountered on site. My thanks on behalf of Haringey goes out to Marlborough for their dedication to deliver.”
“Working alongside our Term Service Contractor Marlborough Highways, we successfully completed renovations to the Crowstone Footbridge. The designs were provided by Marlborough, and the work was unique. The scheme was completed to budget and ahead of its programme duration.”
“I would like to thank you and your team for your efforts, the Marlborough crews were professional, courteous, and hard working all day and ensured the event went without a hitch. You and the team were a credit to the company, demonstrating commitment and support to the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham.”
“I just wanted to say what a pleasure it has been to work with Marlborough Highways over the last six months. The quality of work is superb, and there has been some excellent collaboration between Milestone and Marlborough to complete, what at times, has been quite a challenging scheme. I hope to work with Marlborough on another project in the near future.”
“Marlborough worked with us in constructing a 1.3km cycle track. There were a number of technical difficulties to overcome, and their gifted foreman worked to propose some innovative solutions to the challenges we faced. The result is a facility that the locals are proud of, providing walkers and cyclists with alternative access to the hospital and nearby school. The scheme was a lot of hard work, but well worth it.”
“Marlborough attracts people who take care and have pride in their work. Several gangs of Operatives worked tirelessly for six months to reconstruct drainage networks, lay more than 3km of high quality bespoke granite kerbs and granite channels blocks to ensure positive drainage. The technical compliance, attention to detail and level of quality finish along the entire carriageway was exceptional”.
“We saw huge benefits in appointing Marlborough as our full service contractor and we’re impressed – they’ve delivered consistent high quality service and superior quality control across every project. Marlborough, provide us with a ‘one-stop’ shop solution – we get the same quality of service and better control across all aspects of the project.”
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