City West Works hits the hundred

A job creation scheme in Salford intended to help people secure work in the construction industry has recruited its 100th apprentice.

After completing a two week training programme, Dawn Walker has just started work as a trainee multi-skilled operative with Enterprise, a maintenance service provider that works with housing associations and local authorities.

So far 108 recruits have been appointed to the City West Works Skills Programme. It is run by the social landlord City West Housing Trust and its contractors who are delivering a £235 million improvement programme to homes.

The ninth intake of trainees, made up of seven local women, were welcomed into a career in construction by leading female engineer Claire Curtis Thomas, CEO of the Institution of Gas Engineers and Managers and a former Labour MP.

Walker, 24, who lives with her mum in Little Hulton will be working with the company in Eccles on a programme to modernise homes owned by City West.

She said: “I’d been out of work for 18 months so this job opportunity has provided a real life line for me. I trained as a motor vehicle engineer but realised it wasn’t for me. I like doing things that are practical. This is a fantastic opportunity, the training has been great and I’ve learnt so much in two weeks. I’m training to be a multi-skilled operative, which includes tiling, plumbing, window fitting and roofing work. I can’t wait to get started.”

Through City West Works, the Salford-based housing association is plugging the skills gap and providing training and employment opportunities, targeting the long-term unemployed and women interested in a career in the construction industry.

Since the summer of 2009 City West has worked with its contract partners to ensure that for every £1 million invested in the area one new job is created and training is provided to NVQ Level 2. The scheme will mean an estimated 250 new jobs for local people.

To date, 25 per cent of the construction jobs created have been for women, more than double the national average of 10 per cent.

Speaking at the graduate training ceremony, Claire Curtis Thomas said: “It’s fantastic that I’m welcoming more young women into future careers in construction. There are great people here who want young people to do exceptionally well and whose lives are focused on finding young women who want to succeed in construction.

“The work City West is doing is unparalleled in terms of its breadth and depth. It’s creating a virtuous circle, the community gets better homes and job opportunities and City West and its partners get well trained apprentices.”

Supporting the long term sustainability of Salford, City West’s approach to job creation during a tough economic climate has also reaped praise from Salford City Council.

Councillor Peter Connor, lead member for housing, said: “City West is enabling young people to get education and training so they are able to develop their skills for the future. By encouraging women to work in construction they are also demonstrating that these opportunities are open to everyone.”

Increased employment opportunities and a more skilled workforce offers long-term improvements to the Salford area, particularly by making jobs more accessible to vulnerable areas of the community and increasing local prosperity.

Of the people who have found work, 25 per cent are customers of the housing association – including Walker, whose mother is a City West tenant.

Colette McKune, director of asset management at City West Housing Trust, said: “Appointing our 100th trainee is a considerable milestone to achieve in such a short space of time and during a recession, I’m incredibly proud of the success of the City West Works Skills Programme. It has a 100 per cent success rate with every person to take part in the Skills Programme leaving with a nationally recognised qualification, and going on to secure employment.”