Young people in Cardiff aiming to work in the building industry have been given a head start through a Prince’s Trust Get into Construction programme organised in conjunction with city partnership homes developer Lovell and Cadwyn Housing Association.
The programme was based at The Mill, Canton: an 800-home development in west Cardiff which is one of Wales’ largest urban regeneration schemes. A group of local trainees, aged 18-25, took part in the three-week training programme designed to help unemployed young people into work. Following the course, Lovell has taken on one trainee as an apprentice while another has been recruited as a labourer by a Lovell subcontractor, with the possibility of an apprenticeship in the future. Four of the other trainees have found jobs with other firms.
The training programme included a site visit to The Mill and closely supervised work experience on the project. As well as practical experience and careers advice, the trainees had the opportunity to gain a health and safety qualification and undertake the training to acquire a Construction Skills Certification Scheme card. This is the second Get into Construction programme which Lovell has helped organise in Cardiff in association with the construction programme at The Mill. 16 young people benefitted from the earlier course, with four taking up apprenticeships.
Ian Thomas, Programme Manager for The Prince’s Trust Cymru, said: “Our Get into Construction programme with Lovell is a fantastic opportunity for young people to take their first steps towards working in the construction industry. At The Prince’s Trust, we are committed to changing young people’s lives and we’d like to thank Lovell for supporting our commitment through delivering these programmes.”
Lovell Regional Training Advisor Darryl Williams added: “Encouraging more young people into our industry is a key part of our investment in local communities. It’s very satisfying that the two training programmes run with The Prince’s Trust Cymru have resulted in either jobs or apprenticeships for 10 of the young people involved, as well as helping others improve their job prospects and find out more about what it’s like working in construction.”
The 800 homes under construction by Lovell at The Mill, Canton, are regenerating the former Arjo Wiggins paper mill site. They include 358 homes for open market sale by Lovell and 442 homes for rent — which will be managed by Cadwyn Housing Association for the Tirion Group who are developing the site in partnership with Lovell. The Mill scheme is going ahead with support from the Welsh Government and financial backing from the Principality Building Society.
Pictured above are representatives from Lovell, The Prince’s Trust and Cadwyn Housing Association with some of the trainees who took part in the Get into Construction programme in Cardiff. In the back row, from left to right, are: James Player from Lovell; Olivia Spence from The Prince’s Trust; Kathryn Williams from Cadwyn Housing Association; and Darryl Williams from Lovell. In the front row, from left to right, are trainees Zac Frassinelli, Otis Simpson, Dan Hemming and Dan Davies.
