30 July 2009
Young construction trainees from Leeds have taken a step up on the career ladder by successfully completing a regeneration project to redevelop 13 bin yards within the East End Park Clarks neighbourhood.
A great improvement to the area, the yards were cleared out and walls and gates were renewed. Leeds City Council’s East North East Area Management team worked with Construction Leeds to manage the scheme to ensure the work benefited Leeds residents and businesses. The 12 trainees were given valuable experience by Taurus, a Leeds based groundwork company. The scheme has proven that the construction trade can be kept buoyant by training young people to redevelop existing buildings and maintaining a skilled workforce for when the industry picks up again. Taurus were assisted by Construction Leeds with funding from Leeds Local Enterprise Initiative (LEGI), Sharing the Success, keen to support existing construction businesses within the city. As a result of this project, three of these trainees have now been taken on by Taurus as apprentices.
Apprentices of the construction trade are struggling to complete their qualifications in this recession due to a lack of vocational work available. Now engaged in the industry by this project, these trainees will go on to finish their qualifications and find employment, with some ultimately setting up their own businesses.
Trainee Joe Thornton, 18 of Leeds College of Building who has been offered an apprenticeship from Taurus towards his NVQ II in Bricklaying said: “I’ve really enjoyed getting stuck into a real project and seeing what I’m capable of instead of just shadowing someone else. The residents have been really supportive, even saying that the yards are too nice for bins now and could be used as barbeque areas which makes me feel we’ve made a difference to the community”.
Taurus had previously relied heavily on the private sector for the majority of its contracts. Construction Leeds has helped them gain more sustainable contracts which currently lie in the public sector. They devised the scheme to have maximum social impact by integrating trainees. One of Taurus’ on site trainers, Neil Broadhead commented:
“I have been really impressed with the quality of work these trainees have produced. This project has allowed them to take their time to learn a job properly and gain valuable on site experience. It’s been a joy to watch them gain confidence and pride in their work as it has given these youngsters the opportunity to prove themselves in a real, live situation.
We cannot allow the construction industry to become stagnant due to lack of private sector trade. If something like this can be done with a small contractor on a relatively tiny scheme – think how many businesses and therefore residents could benefit from a larger scale project”
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For further information, Sharing the Success case studies and images, please contact Jo Franks at Anita Morris Associates on 01943 603311 or email jo@anitamorrisassociates.co.uk