Wates in Wales: raising skills and employability through our Building Futures Programme
Leading housing contractor, Wates Living Space, recently saw its 500th participant pass through its 44th Building Futures Programme.
Many UK communities remain deprived of the employment opportunities and development programmes required to put jobs and skills in place. This ultimately impacts private businesses through an unskilled and declining employee base. Back in 2006, Wates added their support to this agenda by launching a pioneering return to work/training programme called Building Futures.
Building Futures is an award winning 2 week Qualifications and Credit Framework accredited vocational training programme. It is aimed at long term unemployed adults, all of whom are disadvantaged in finding work. It provides soft skills training and practical training, as well as a valuable insight into the construction industry.
The programme content focuses on:
- personal development such as confidence building, team-work, behavioural skills
- return to work guidance on CV preparation, job search and interviewing skills
- industry awareness by undertaking construction site visits
- attending trade tester sessions in various trades
- Health and Safety training leading to the industry standard CSCS test
Since 2006, Wates have delivered 44 programmes nationwide. In Wales, programmes have taken place in Merthyr, Newport and Pontypridd. Since the programme launched, Wates have supported 57% of the participants into employment or training, funded 400 CSCS cards and accredited the programme so that all involved have the opportunity to gain a qualification.
A wide range of local training providers have been engaged to assist with delivery of the training element of the programme and its most recent Welsh programme saw collaboration with Grow Enterprise Wales (GrEW).
The partnership worked particularly well with the aims of Building Futures aligning with many of the aspirations of GrEWs own in-house programmes. All delegates on the Pontypridd Building Futures Programme continued with further training at GrEW after Building Futures completed. In addition, the programme culminates with a community day project to enable the delegates to put into practice the skills they’ve learnt.
GrEW Operations Director, Mark Pearson commented: ‘We were delighted to engage with Wates for the delivery of the Building Futures Programme and it provided us with an opportunity to further showcase the abilities of the team here at GrEW. We were impressed by the scope of the Building Futures Programme and the much needed opportunity it presented, for those not in education or employment (NEETs) from the Rhondda Cynon Taff area.’
To ensure the continued success of Building Futures, Wates have now appointed a national delivery partner for the scheme. Ixion Holdings Ltd has a strong track record in delivery of pre-employment training to unemployed groups, with end to end services that provide a full journey from engagement and initial assessment, through to sustainable employment. Ixion Holdings Ltd will manage the overall recruitment, delivery, aftercare and tracking of Building Futures, alongside a Wates Champion to support each programme. We look forward to developing similar partnerships to GrEW and Ixion Holdings Ltd in Wales for 2012 and beyond.
For more information about Wates, please contact Deborah Bolton, Business Development Manager, tel 07810 656756.