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Gentoo Edge Business Award winner 2007 Gentoo is a people and property business whose foundations were laid in Sunderland in 2001 when the city's tenants voted overwhelmingly to transfer 36,000 homes to Gentoo. In its first five years, Gentoo invested £400 million back into its neighbourhoods. Gentoo offers a number of work experience programmes and its Construction Challenge develops the workforce of tomorrow by offering construction skills training to 15- and 16-year-olds. The group also has 78 business and construction ambassadors who deliver work-related learning, reaching some 2,500 young people each year. With its Edge Awards prize money Gentoo plans to expand its Busy Bodies company, which employs people with learning difficulties to do small DIY and gardening jobs for its more vulnerable residents. It's also hoping to offer its Enterprising Futures programme to a younger age group and continue to employ the practical skills trainers who deliver its Construction Challenge programme. Find out more about Gentoo at www.gentoosunderland.com