It equips students with a range of skills, particularly in carpentry and brickwork. All the students are trained for a CSCS card (Health and Safety Accreditation) which will enable them to work on local building sites, thus improving their ability to find sustained employment.

As part of the programme, students have been given work placements with local firms such as A & A Construction Group. Kevin Redmond, A & A’s Business Development Manager, says: “As a local employer, it’s important for us to integrate with the local community, especially when it comes to training and education. The City College students we’re giving work experience to are tomorrow’s skilled tradespeople so this is an ideal opportunity for them to see that the construction industry can offer them a strong and rewarding future."

"The students seem extremely keen, very positive and have a natural ability to adapt to the industry. We have structured their time with us to involve them with different skills and this will enable them to appreciate how the different trades work. There may be a particular trade that brings out the best in them and that’s the important thing.”

Meanwhile, other Skills for Jobs students are gaining work experience with employers such as Connaught's and Mear's Social Housing Maintenance with the aim of finding permanent employment, long term contracts or apprenticeships within the industry. Sam Ingram, Employer Engagement Officer & Work Placement Officer at City College, says: “The students on the Skills for Jobs programme have benefitted hugely from the support and encouragement of their Course Tutor Andy Winter and Basic Skills Lecturer Rob Disney and its been fantastic to see them go from strength to strength." "It’s also essential that firms like A&A Construction assist in the development of these students as there’s dearth of companies able to support them in the current economic climate. There’s the worrying prospect that once we come through the recession, there will be new building developments but a shortage of skilled construction workers.

This would force companies into outsourcing employees from abroad and is a waste of potential employment opportunities that could be filled by local people.”

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