Celebrating Success

October 10, 2016

The dedication and passion of Bateman Groundworks employee Richard Priss to turn his life around and build a career was recognised in a national award scheme.

Richard, who works at the Costessey site, was named in the final three in the Prince’s Trust Young Achiever of the Year Award for the East of England.

The Young Achiever of the Year award, sponsored by TK Maxx and HomeSense, recognised the success of young people getting into employment, training or education and overcoming substantial barriers to transform their lives.

Judges were told how Richard had lost focus at school and fell under negative influences. Expelled at 14 for fighting, Richard left school with no qualifications.

He became homeless at 16. Keen to make a fresh start, in 2009 he moved to Norwich with his partner to escape London gang culture.

Not long after, Richard’s first child was born and a few years later, he had a second child. With a family to support, he was desperate to turn his life around. It was then that he found The Prince’s Trust Get into Construction programme.

He learned practical skills including bricklaying, concrete finishes and drainage at Bateman Groundworks.

He impressed so much with his dedication and passion that Richard was offered a permanent job – his first ever since he left school nine years previously.

Congratulations to Richard.