A free training programme will help out-of-work customers of believe housing to take their first steps towards a career in housing and construction.
Constructing Your Future is a new six-week bootcamp created by believe housing, one of the North East’s largest housing associations, and RE:GEN Academy, a specialist construction and retrofit training provider.
The programme is designed to help people who are not currently in work or training to develop new skills, build confidence and move closer to paid work in a sector with growing demand for skilled workers, including those returning to work after time away for family or caring responsibilities.
Participants will gain an insight into careers in housing and construction while developing workplace skills, completing CV and interview training, and working towards recognised health and safety qualifications.
The bootcamp will introduce them to different areas of work in housing and property services, including repairs, surveying, damp and mould, and energy efficiency.
Participants who complete the programme will have the opportunity to apply for two roles at believe housing.
The training will take place at a community venue in Peterlee, at times designed to fit around the school day to make it easier for parents to take part. Help with practical needs, including travel, will also be available.
Nik Welsh, Executive Director of Communities and Customer Services at believe housing, said: “Constructing Your Future is about showing people what is possible.
“Housing and construction offer many interesting and rewarding careers. People can learn new skills, develop and build a better future.
“We especially want to encourage customers who may not have thought about working in housing or construction before, including those returning to work after time away for family or caring responsibilities.
“A good job can make a huge difference. It can help people feel more secure about money, support their families and look to the future with confidence.
“By offering practical help, specialist training and direct links to jobs, we want to help customers find work they enjoy, earn a good wage and achieve things they may once have thought were out of reach.”
Cheryl Campbell, Academy Director at RE:GEN Academy, said: “For many people, the biggest barrier to getting into work isn’t a lack of ability – it’s having the right opportunity, support and confidence to take that first step.
“Constructing Your Future is about breaking down some of those barriers and showing people that a career in housing or construction could be within their reach. Crucially, we’re not training people for jobs that don’t exist. We’re linking the programme to real vacancies at believe housing, giving participants the opportunity to put what they’ve learned into practice and progress to an interview.
“That connection between skills, employers and opportunity is what can make a real difference. That’s why RE:GEN Group is directly investing in the delivery of this programme because we understand the difference that targeted skills and employment support can make to local communities. We’re proud to be working with believe housing to create a genuine pathway into work for local people.”
Constructing Your Future builds on believe housing’s ongoing research with Durham University into the challenges that can make it harder for people to find and stay in work, including caring responsibilities, health, confidence and access to support.
The programme brings together believe housing’s expertise in housing and construction, its understanding of local communities, and RE:GEN Academy’s training and employer links. Together, they aim to help people gain skills, build confidence and move towards rewarding careers.
The initiative also supports the work of the North East Housing Partnership and Constructing Excellence North East to improve employment opportunities and encourage more women into construction.
Partners hope the approach can help tackle skills shortages while creating lasting opportunities for local people.
Interested?
believe housing customers who would like to find out more or register their interest can email employability@believehousing.co.uk or call 0300 1311 999.
Customers can also attend an information day on Monday, 19 October, from 10am to 12.30pm, at East Durham Trust Community House, Yoden Road, Peterlee SR8 5DP, to find out more about the programme before it begins.
The six-week Constructing Your Future programme starts in November and will run every Tuesday and Thursday, from 10am to 2pm, at East Durham Trust Community House in Peterlee.
Places are limited.
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