Participation in Action: Construction training builds young people's job prospects

Provider London Youth

Name Build-it

Young people with few qualifications or little work experience often find it hard to access training and employment opportunities, which is particularly the case for those with severe vulnerabilities.

London Youth’s Build-it scheme was developed to marry-up the need to help this vulnerable group find work with calls from construction employers for more young people to be trained for jobs in the building industry.

Build-it aims to give disadvantaged young people the chance to learn new skills and access employment and training opportunities in the construction industry by getting them to help with the regeneration of their local communities, with mentoring help from experienced tradespeople.

Young people aged 16 to 25 are referred to the 12-week programme by social workers, youth offending teams and probation services. In addition to formal referral routes, young people can also get onto the programme through word of mouth by friends.

Allocated project

James Alexander, head of Build-it, says London Youth works with a variety of housing associations in south London who will allocate a property or project on which Build-it’s young people can work.

“They will do a variety of things including painting and decorating, a bit of tiling, or some basic plumbing such as installing new radiators,” he says. “We’ve also restored pathways, installed outdoor gym equipment and built mirrors in stairwells for security purposes.”

Alexander explains that by taking part in the project, the young people are able to gain a Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) card, while the Build-it team also encourages the young people to go to college to try to gain construction qualifications, as well as maths and English diplomas.

“The typical young person who comes on the programme hasn’t really done much for a while – they haven’t got many qualifications, or have possibly dropped out of college, so it’s up to us to try and get them back into an education placement,” he explains.

“We’ve also had a number of young people referred to us from colleges where they’re worried that a young person might drop out, so by working with them alongside the college they are more likely to stay on.”

Being able to work alongside different local contractors, who act as mentors, also means the young people are able to develop skills that are relevant to, and in demand by, the local employment market.

“Once they are ready, we look to find them a work placement with an actual company as well, which has led to a number of people getting jobs,” adds Alexander.

Data collected by London Youth in 2014/15 found a total of 334 young people took part in the Build-it programme, with 60 per cent progressing into work, training and education.

He adds that feedback about the programme has also been positive, with young people finding the practical hands-on experience beneficial. It has also helped them to gain increased confidence and resilience so they can take on new challenges and setbacks.

Malachi, a young person from the Build-it programme, says: “It helped me improve my multi- trade skills such as plumbing, painting and decorating, and put me on the right track to finding a ‘legit’ job.”

Venchenzo Chapman, another Built-it participant, adds: “Build-it has helped me get my CSCS card, as well as help me understand what it’s like to be in an actual working environment.

“On the programme I was able to learn the basics of painting and decorating, which has led me to get an apprenticeship at Battersea Power Station with painting and decorating company Cousins.”

Looking ahead, Alexander says the young people are currently finishing a project for Lambeth Council. After that, they have another lined up that will involve redecorating a property for a housing association that supports refugees.

More from: http://londonyouth.org/what-we-do/employability/build-it/