Construction students get career-boosting work experience

Construction students from a leading local college group are getting the vital on-site work experience they need with the help of local landlord Coastline Housing.

The students from Cornwall College St Austell, part of The Cornwall College Group (TCCG), have been benefiting from the ‘Coastline Construct’ project, a back-to-work scheme designed by the independent, charitable housing association to help members of the community to work towards jobs within the local construction industry.

The series of work placements, delivered at the new affordable housing development at Quintrell Downs near Newquay, are giving the students “a real taste of a career in construction”, according to Justin Ricks, Community Navigator at Coastline Housing.

“Participants on the scheme benefit from five days of live site experience in a range of trades and support to seek work or training moving forwards,” Justin continued.

“We are so pleased to be offering these opportunities once more now that some covid restrictions have been lifted, allowing us to invite placements back onto site again.”

The training experience, taking place at the Quintrell Downs site where Coastline is currently working with Mi-space on the development of 140 properties, was designed to not only help unemployed people gain skills and knowledge but to obtain essential on-site requirements such as gaining a CSCS card.

Student Ben Mortimer-Crann, 17-years-old from St Austell, completed his placement at the Quintrell Downs site. Ben is currently working towards his Level 2 qualification in site carpentry and has been enjoying the skills and knowledge he has gaining whilst on site.

David Pengelly, Operations Director at Mi-space, added: “Ben came to us with a keen interest in carpentry and specifically timber frame construction, so we’ve been delighted to arrange tailored training and experience for him.

“It’s been incredibly rewarding to watch his skills and confidence develop on site, and for him to be offered an apprenticeship position as a result of his work placement.”

Following the successful completion of his work placement, Ben made such an impression with VW Carpenters, that he was offered a permeant position by the company.

‘It’s always a pleasure to meet young people who are interested in carpentry, and a site-based work experience placement is the perfect environment for that to happen”, Dave Rid, VW Carpenters’ Contracts Manager said.

“We’ve been very impressed with Ben, so much so that we are delighted to have made him an offer to join our team as an apprentice.”

The Work Skills Training Academy at Cornwall College aims to help unemployed people back into the job market, providing employability skills and knowledge to help in the search for work.

Working alongside a range of different organisations allows them to provide a range of free information, advice and guidance, access to practical skills training taster sessions, support with literacy and numeracy and short employability and vocational programmes.

“We are proud to be involved with this exciting project alongside Coastline Housing,” said Laura Tellam, Business Manager for the Work Skills Training Academy.

“Experience in a live workplace is invaluable. Coastline Construct is a great opportunity for people to try different skills and gain qualifications that will enable them enter employment in the sector.”

Coastline Housing will be offering future work placement opportunities in construction at sites in Bodmin, Redruth and Penzance. If you are currently out of employment and would like to consider working in this industry, email backtowork@coastlinehousing.co.uk for details.

For more information on the Work Skills Training Academy, please visit www.cornwall.ac.uk or call 0330 123 2523