The Booth Centre is a charity close to the company’s heart. Working in city centres coupled with us walking to our place of work in the early mornings means that it’s inevitable we will come into contact with someone less fortunate than ourselves, making it obvious to us that we needed to help in anyway possible.

We undertake food and clothing drives, as well as sponsored events, but we also participate in more hands on activities which help the centre’s clients with things that can make it easier for them to help themselves, build their confidence and be able to attend job fairs and clubs.

It’s at these job fairs that we are able, with the centre’s staff, to help their clients learn how to get back on the job ladder and advise of where they can go for assistance.

During 2020 and 2021 these events had to be put on hold due to the Covid-19 pandemic but we continue to support them and the awesome work they do.

It was at a job fair before Covid-19 hit that we met Piotr.

Piotr was a homeless man who we met through the Booth Centre after a member of our team volunteered to assist at the job fair being held.

Piotr already had a CSCS card and had previously worked on site, but he found himself homeless when he moved to Manchester and as a result found it hard to secure employment.

After going through the standard interview processes and considering his situation at the time and the issues he was upfront about, we decided to give him a chance.

Piotr worked with us for about eight weeks in total, he was a good worker and well liked by everyone he worked with. Unfortunately it didn’t work out as he eventually stopped coming into work.

But this has not deterred Murraywood Construction from looking into marginalized groups to recruit, understanding a person’s past doesn’t need to define their future.