Eight trainees have taken their first step to a job in construction thanks to a course organised by Brighton’s newest destination, Edward Street Quarter.
The course, in conjunction with McLaren Construction and Brighton & Hove City Council’s Economic Development Office and Youth Employability Service, aims to help local students who have been out of education, employment or training.
Those involved included rehabilitating ex-offenders and long-term unemployed, with training led by Skills Training UK at Brighton’s Tower Point.
Steve Eccles, Project Director at First Base, the developer for Edward Street Quarter, said: “The aim is to help young trainees in this group earn an accreditation that will enable them to get a foot on the career ladder.
“This will be in the form of a green card enabling them to work on construction sites. It is, we hope, the first step in their journey.
“We will continue to work with them over the lifetime of the development using funds that we have put aside to upskill them.”
A representative from First Base visited the course on Friday and Edward Street Quarter’s logistics contractor held a question and answer session on Zoom with the trainees.
The lessons covered Health and Safety Level 1 and will eventually lead to a Construction Skills Certificate Scheme green card.
At the end of the learning, the trainees will sit a test in which they need to correctly answer 45 out of 50 questions to obtain the qualification.
The course is part of a commitment by Edward Street Quarter, a development of Grade A office space, apartments, retail and recreational space on the site of the old Amex building, to support its local community.
Some of the trainees could even end up working on site.
Steve Eccles added: “It’s an exciting time for the trainees as they start to build their careers, and we are delighted to give them that opportunity. Already two of the cohort are working with our logistics partner and we’ll do all we can to help them find work when the course is completed.”
