The refurbishment of Trellick Tower in West London has become a catalyst for long-term employment with a succession of intensive training programmes delivered in Kensington and Chelsea by housing maintenance provider, Wates Living Space.
Wates Living Space recently held its third Building Futures programme at Trellick Tower where a Kensington and Chelsea Council-funded external refurbishment to preserve the landmark Grade II listed building is underway. Ten local jobseekers took part in two weeks of employability workshops and practical trade sessions, including carpentry, asbestos awareness and health and safety training.
The recent Building Futures programme culminated in a series of interviews designed to introduce the locals to potential employers. This resulted in long-term employment opportunities being offered to all candidates with Wates Living Space and its supply chain partners*.
Delivered in partnership with Ixion, the course was held at Paddington Arts Centre and on site at Trellick Tower where Wates Living Space is carrying out the external refurbishment works on behalf of the council.
Throughout the course the candidates undertook training and examinations for CSCS cards, which will enable them to work in the construction sector. They were also supported through a BTEC Level 1 in Construction giving them the foundations for future careers in the sector.
Launched in 2006, Wates’ accredited Building Futures programme is designed to provide vocational training for those aged over 19 years who are not in training, education or employment. Over 1,500 people have trained with Wates through the programme, which also includes six months of career support after completion of the course.
David Morgan, Managing Director of Wates Living Space, commented: “The emphasis of our Building Futures programme is on the future prospects of our candidates. All of the on-site training we provide, be it for trainees, apprentices or interns, is designed to support and encourage new recruits into our sector, but it is vital that the career opportunities we create are sustainable. The beauty of Building Futures is that it introduces jobseekers to long-term employment, while giving them valuable skills in the process, and I am so pleased to see all of our recent candidates in Kensington and Chelsea were offered jobs with Wates and its supply chain; a great success for all involved.”
Catherine Faulks, Kensington and Chelsea Council’s Lead Member for Skills and Enterprise, added: “Building Futures is an excellent programme and exactly the kind of initiative we want more of the organisations operating within the borough to deliver. The participants did not just complete training but were given wider exposure and were connected with potential employers, and this ties in perfectly with the culture we are trying to foster here, for example through our very first Enterprise Week launched in November 2018.”
*Wates Living Space supply chain partners include: Madigan Gill, Fawkes and Reece, TRAD Group, and Oneil and Brennan.
