AN EMPLOYEE at BAM has come under fire after suggesting that South Bromsgrove High should ‘discard all applications’ from Charford residents.
The construction company was responsible for building South Bromsgrove High in 2007 and six other schools in the district as part of a Private Financial Initiative (PFI).
It remains as the facilities management company providing catering, cleaning and building maintenance as part of the PFI contract.
BAM is contracted to provide services for the school but its staff are not employed by South Bromsgrove High directly.
In a leaked email seen by the Standard, BAM employee Mitchell Cartwright, said: “I think next time we advertise it may be wise to discard anyone from Charford straight of the batt [sic].”
The email was in reference to a single parent in Charford who was working at the school but had to leave because of childcare issues.
It led to Charford Councillor Michael Thompson demanding an apology from BAM for their ‘prejudice remarks’.
He said: “People everywhere are talking about prejudice, well here it is on our doorstep.
“I am sick to the back teeth of people labelling our village.
“In my job outside of politics I work alongside many Charford residents and they are some of the most hard working and committed individuals I know.
“The employee who made this comment obviously thinks a lot of himself.
“I might point out, if he is so above everybody, then why out of the 19 words in his emails, has he spelt two words incorrectly?
“Charford is a highly skilled community – we have our own Neighbourhood Watch and even our own political party.
“If he wants to talk down to the people here, I would happily have an open conversation with him. Bring it on.”
Coun Thompson added that the headteacher and the governors at South Bromsgrove High will be appalled by the comment made.
A spokesman for BAM told the Standard that Coun Thompson was right to raise this matter.
He said: “When the person involved brought this to our attention we were very concerned and investigated immediately.
“We are grateful that they informed us about this and we have apologised to them, we have also offered them the opportunity to raise a formal grievance.
“The individual who sent this email has been spoken to and warned, making it clear that it is not acceptable behaviour and falls well below the standard we set for ourselves.”
