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07 August 2013

7 August 2013

Build-it programme breaks down unemployment barriers for young people in London

Our Build-it programme, which started life on Channel  4’s ‘The Secret Millions’ series, has now helped two young people find jobs in construction and electrical instillation within just three weeks. As well as this it has given them good employability skills, which were gained by interacting with other people – young and older – on the scheme.

Build-it participants, Arnold Amone and Daniel Davis, both received places on the program after being unemployed for many months.

Arnold Amone who joined the program in June 2013 quickly impressed his colleagues with his good timekeeping skills and his ability to work hard and consistently through particularly difficult situations. After he gained his qualifications and a CSCS card he was put on a database and was registered with Mace, an international consultancy and construction company. This means that he will be first in line for labor jobs when the company needs it. Mace has worked on major projects across the capital, including The Shard and the Tate Modern. Arnold will be working with them on an ad hoc basis.

Commenting on the scheme, Arnold states:

“I wanted to work with Build-it because of what they could offer me and how they can help with my future. I like the atmosphere, mentoring and all the help I get along the way. I had fun at Build-it, learning techniques that I didn’t know, working and getting to know the others in the group. I enjoyed being taught by Danny our mentor who has helped me a lot”.

Another Build-it participant, Daniel Davis, joined the project after having been unemployed for more than three months, despite having a qualification in electrical instillation at Level 3 and prior work experience. Within three weeks of his time on Build-it, Daniel was recommended by the on-site accreditation assessor and is now at a local building site working alongside an electrician. Daniel used his experience well by mentoring some of the younger people onsite who had just left school.

Daniel says:

“Build-it has been great for me because I have enjoyed working in the community centre with all of the others and I have got a job out of it. I enjoyed the way the group worked with each other, we seem to have gelled well as a group which is the main reason I have been coming and the prospects of getting a job out of it at the end.”

Build-it has created opportunities for young people to broaden their networks and make strong links with employers in order to offer fulfilling progression routes into the construction industry. This work will continue over the next two year in the London Borough of Lambeth.

This news update was written by Tiajna Amayo-Izekor, a 17-year old student completing a work experience placement with London Youth.

 

NEWS JUST IN!

Another young person from the Build-it project has just been offered a job. Jason was successful in his interview and will be offered a job with OCO Limited in September. Jason and his family are over the moon!  

Jason says:

"Before I joined Build-it, I was out of work and out of college and wanted to find a job in construction. I found out about it through my sister.

"I started Build-it in June 2013 in Tulse Hill painting a community centre and then started working at Stockwell Community Centre. Build-it has helped me get more experience. I was then put forward for an interview after having good attendance, punctuality and working well with other mentors, I got the job with OCO and will be spending one day a week at college. Build-it has been a good experience because I got to meet new faces, do new things and it got me a job!"

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