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Unemployed given tools to find for work by construction partnership

New colleagues David Dale and Anthony Whitworth are the first in Scarborough to find work through a partnership that is helping long-term unemployed residents into jobs in construction.

They have just started employment with Bramall Construction, after months out of work, thanks to a training support programme delivered by North Yorkshire Community Build.

Both men had been jobless for a total of nearly two years, with little chance of finding work as unemployment has continued to rise in the area. But the partnership provided free training, work experience and a chance to gain NVQ qualifications with Bramall before the company offered the pair permanent jobs.

Bramall is supporting NYCB by offering training and employment positions to its learners whilst carrying out an £21 million social housing improvement programme in partnership with Yorkshire Coast Homes.

Amateur boxer Anthony, aged 23, of Westway, Eastfield, served in the Army for five years after leaving school at 16. After being discharged two years ago, he struggled to find work as employment opportunities dried up.
He said: "When I first came back a couple of years ago, I was able to find work through agencies, but then people started getting laid off as the recession started and the jobs weren't there any more.

"After a while, I became sick of having no money so went to the Job Centre and signed on for the first time in my life. It was then I was referred on this course. Having regular money coming in and not having to scrimp and save for everything has made a heck of a difference. It's been great to learn a trade, which has given me added security that I didn't have when I left the Army."

Plasterer David, aged 34, of Oxford Street, said: "This has helped to turn my life around. Before I started training, I hadn't worked for about a year after losing my last job, and had no qualifications to find a new one.

"I was always able to do the job, and had worked in plastering for 10 years on and off. But because I didn't have any qualifications, it became really difficult and depressing looking for work.

"After the last year, being offered this chance to prove myself was a lifeline. It's given me confidence and made a real difference to my life."

The partnership is managed in Scarborough by the charity Groundwork North Yorkshire and supported by a range of organisations, including Bramall, Scarborough Borough Council, Yorkshire Coast Homes and Yorkshire Coast College.

Bramall Contracts Manager James Hamilton said: "As a company that is committed to community regeneration, we feel it's important to give local residents the chance to improve their skills and lives through our work in Scarborough.

"This training has offered our new recruits a chance to find meaningful work. And they are both great workers; we are certainly very happy with their performance.

Graham Ratcliffe from Groundwork North Yorkshire said: "It's great to see the progress David and Anthony have made on the programme. They are testament to what can be achieved when people pull together to make things work.

"This project has been much more about getting people off unemployment benefits. It has given them the chance to build a positive future for themselves."

Through its links with Groundwork UK, Bramall has also supported similar schemes in Wakefield. Last year, the company won a National Training Award for helping scores of residents into employment in the Barnsley area.