On our project for London Borough of Hounslow, we set up a Building Lives Academy to deliver training and work experience to individuals in long-term unemployment or at risk of becoming not in employment, education or training (NEET).
The training programme, delivered over six weeks, saw students gain Level 1 in Construction Skills, Level 1 Health & Safety, CSCS cards as well as mock interview and CV support.
Our training was designed to help individuals without prior qualifications – with no pre-requisites in Maths, English – enabling us to reach a wider group of people. Students also gained work experience in the construction industry, further supporting their chances of employment.
We delivered our training in partnership with Falcon Green, our supply chain partner, which gave individuals on the course an opportunity to find employability within our supply chain. Working with our recruitment agents, we interviewed students ready for employment to progress into roles on our sites or within the industry’s shared supply chain.
Those that attended and completed the Building Lives programme have reported improved self-esteem and confidence as a result. For many, this is their first qualification, a great start to their careers and future training possibilities.
“I have a much better understanding of the construction industry and of the requirements to get a foot in the door for different jobs. I feel much more confident now to apply for jobs in construction. The training was excellent, well-paced and I received good personal support on the specialist health and safety training. Being able to have a taster on site with Willmott Dixon was great.” - Nikolaos Blathoras, a participant on the course
The Green School for Boys Building Lives Academy is now closed, however we are in conversations with the London Borough of Hounslow, looking to set up another two academies in the borough to upskill and help people into work – a particular need for the community, with rising levels of unemployment due to Covid-19.
