Archive for February, 2012

A graduate from Northampton is one of the many apprentises to have benefitted from the Construction Futures scheme recently.

Mavis Quainoo spent a month working at Taylor Wimpey’s Buttercup Meadow development in Duston, Northamptonshire, after graduating with a Bsc degree in civil engineering from the University of Northampton in 2011. Her work placement was part of the Construction Futures scheme, which directly links construction training with the determination of planning applications.

Through Construction Futures, a condition of Buttercup Meadow’s planning approval was that Taylor Wimpey should provide work placements for local construction students – an innovative scheme which the homebuilder has been more than happy to sign up to.

Mavis (34), who studied her university-accredited course at Moulton College, feels her experiences on site at Buttercup Meadow have given her a competitive edge over others who are seeking employment in the industry.

“It was an incredibly useful experience as I gained a real insight into the day-to-day workings of a house building site,” says Mavis, who lives in Duston. “I was trusted with many different tasks. For example, I checked that the foundations of a house had been put in correctly, and had to make sure the drains and the water systems were in the right place. Having this hands-on role has given me confidence in my own ability and will definitely help me stand out from the rest when I am applying for my first job in civil engineering.”

The Site Manager at Buttercup Meadow, Martin Lee, was equally impressed with Mavis’s skills and her professional attitude during her time at the development of three, four and five-bedroom homes, which is located in South Meadow Road, Duston.

Martin says: “We are used to providing training at Taylor Wimpey and it was clear that Mavis wanted to learn as much as she possibly could, this placement meant she was able to get a real feel for the numerous tasks and processes on site. From shadowing my team, to working with surveyors, she showed a real aptitude for the industry.

“The Construction Futures scheme is a really good idea, as the student picks up valuable experience and Northampton homebuilders benefit as it helps to raise the standards of skills of people trying to break into the industry. Having local people such as Mavis working with us can only be good for the local economy too, as hopefully they will end up employed in the area, rather than having to move away for work.”

Construction Futures is expanding quickly and is attracting interest from the construction industry nationwide. It is part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund and delivered in partnership with Moulton College and Tresham College, Northamptonshire.

Peter Caffry, Construction Futures Manager, says: “In the current economic climate, many students are finding it hard to enter the world of work. Construction Futures uses the planning system to ensure local training opportunities are available for young people. It gives them vital work experience and a head start in their future career”

A pioneering way of creating construction apprenticeships was praised during national apprenticeships week recently. 

The Construction Futures scheme, which is the first of its kind in the UK, makes the delivery of apprenticeships a legal requirement for developers that receive planning permission.

Established by WNDC, the scheme is helping local planning authorities create new jobs for their communities.

Young trainees and apprentices have been working on sites across Northamptonshire as part of the programme. They are recruited from local colleges, who work in partnership with the Construction Futures team, the local planning authorities, and the building contractors.

Chris Millar, Leader of Daventry District Council said: “This scheme ensures local communities directly benefit from the job opportunities created on new construction sites. It is a simple but innovative model that local planning authorities across the country could follow. I really think it has the potential to make a national impact”

Neil Dellar, Head of the Construction Faculty at Moulton College said: “We have found the Construction Futures scheme to be a very effective link between our students studying at Moulton College and industry. It’s a powerful way of helping them make the transition into the world of work, which is crucial at a time when the first step onto the job market is getting increasingly more difficult”

Despite an increase in public funding and a 50% rise in apprenticeships in the country as a whole, the number of construction apprenticeships started in 2010/11 only rose by 5%. The industry generally has poor links with training providers and is suffering from the recession more than most sectors. Construction Futures has proved to be an effective solution to the problem.

Business Secretary Vince Cable endorsed the Construction Futures scheme on a recent visit to Northampton.

He met young apprentices at a Lagan Homes construction site in Upton, where they are building 200 high quality new homes.

Vince Cable said: “Northampton is showing that despite tough economic conditions there are still innovative ways that new jobs and growth can be delivered at a local level.

“I am particularly pleased to see apprentices working on live construction sites as part of the Construction Futures scheme, which offers an effective way to secure job opportunities for young people.”

The Business Secretary met budding brick-layers and electricians, who have been given their opportunity after Construction Futures instilled training requirements in the legal agreements tied to the Upton planning permission

See the reports by BBC Look East and Anglia TV about the high profile visit.