Yorkshire builder Rok has transformed a Rotherham youth club, following a makeover competition, staged to mark the 40th birthday of one of its subsidiaries. Rok Stonecare, the company's specialist concrete repair team, gave the Kabins youth club in Brampton a complete overhaul, painting exterior walls, decorating internally, creating and painting of a bespoke Kabins sign on the exterior wall, providing and fitting a carpet throughout, landscaping the gardens, donating various office equipment, restocking the tuck shop and even donating a Nintendo Wii for the kids to use. Rok received helped from suppliers Wernicks, EPMS, Oakswood Services, Quantum Construction, Travis Perkins, Brandon Hire, A E Russell, Complete Office, Personal Touch and Keg Refurbishments. Dewi Miller, team leader at Rok Stonecare said: "Rather than looking for a gift ourselves to mark our 40th birthday, we wanted to give something back to the community. We settled on the Kabins because of the difference it makes to young people." Warden supervisor Craig Cornwall said: “There are a lot of people to thank for this makeover, from the junior wardens who entered the competition, to the Rok volunteers and their suppliers who made such kind donations. This experience has meant a lot to the people of Brampton and I’m sure the efforts will be enjoyed for many years to come.”
Rotherham
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With reports of job cuts and the downturn in the building sector, Yorkshire maintenance and building business, Rok, is investing in the training of its business leaders of today and tomorrow by developing its workforce from within. Working with Leeds-based Red Sky Learning, Rok is piloting its "Leading The Way" training programme with 40 members of its team across the North of England currently undergoing a 12 month course in leadership skills. There will be a group of ten candidates from Yorkshire based Rok centres in Wakefield, Rotherham, Leeds and York, with groups from the North East and North West also taking part. Rob Dickson, Rok’s People Director for the North of England, said: "The programme is vital in the current economic climate and is designed with Rok’s values and strategies for success in mind. The aim is to strengthen the organisation for the future, making sure the right people are in place with the right skills. "While Rok is well positioned to weather the downturn in the economy by being a diverse business with a focus across the building and maintenance industry, it would be foolish to stop development of our people, because they are vital to our success both now and in the future." Rok in Yorkshire saw its regional maintenance division quadruple in two years, resulting in the establishment of a new team based in Rotherham in June. 
Building firm Rok has announced their latest financial results with turnover jumping to £950m for the year up to December 2007. The company has a base in Rotherham and has been working with Rotherham 2010 on the Decent Homes scheme. Rok's ties with Yorkshire were strengthened in February 2007 when it bought Rotherham-based EMB Services for an undisclosed sum. EMB worked for Rok, supplying plumbing, gas fitting, plastering and joinery work, on the Decent Homes programme in Rotherham.
