Customer Services
Construction Training Initiative wins Constructing Excellence Award / Bow based construction project recognised for excellence
The CTI offers accredited training and works with Key Stage 4 pupils from local schools, delivering a complete training package, which progresses right through to employment. The unique project includes internally provided training, on-site summer work experience as well as on-site placements as part of multi-year apprenticeships through to full time employment.
Recognised by Tower Hamlets Council as a local provider of employment training, the CTI’s dedicated workshops are rooted in the heart of local communities. Developed and managed by a team of three, it trains up to 50 new recruits a year, providing a range of skills and giving them an entry-point to a career in the construction industry.
Trainees gain a City and Guilds Multi Skills in Construction qualification and undertake first aid and health and safety training, are entered for their CSCS health and safety cards and also take part in a tower scaffolding course, proving their competence in the industry.
Once completed, trainees are given help to gain on-site placements in the construction environment to gain their NVQ qualification. Old Ford Housing Association’s workshop resources are then used for the remaining part of the year to offer women-only and open age courses in basic repairs as well as a Caretaker Skills Upgrade course, which is open to any Registered Providers (RP’s) in the borough.
Christine Hevey, Assistant Director of Community Development at Old Ford Housing Association, said: “As a rapidly expanding social landlord, our organisation is committed to investing in communities, with the aim of Enhancing Life Chances.
“For many years, we have contributed to the construction of an overall community-focused vision and to the development of award-winning projects with clear priority actions, one of these being CTI, our very own long-term solution to tackling unemployment locally. We are delighted that the Constructing Excellence Awards has recognised our long-term engagement in developing and improving our training offer, and the positive impact that this has had in our community.”
Being a partner of leading affordable housing provider, Circle Anglia has allowed CTI to develop strong relationships with Tower Hamlets Council, Mears and the Apollo Group, Old Ford’s repairs and Decent Homes contractors, to offer recruitment into the project as well as on-site trainee work placements.
Partners have signed up to long-term commitments that will help Old Ford to deliver CTI, and bring significant mutual benefits like a ready-made workforce, increased awareness of corporate responsibility and valuable impetus in tackling one of the area’s biggest social problems.
For trainees and local communities this means wide-ranging practical experience, a better understanding of the construction industry and improved opportunities for referral to the project via multiple local touch points, whilst the project itself has gained a balanced range of trainees from all cultures.
To date 153 people have been trained, 125 have gained vocational qualifications and 98 have secured jobs, including 54 directly with Circle Anglia’s construction partners.
For further information please contact Maike Riedel at the Circle Anglia press office on 0845 234 0824 or email pressoffice@circleanglia.org.
