Construction Academy in Fife helps local people into work

March 6, 2018 / Keith Osborne
Construction Academy in Fife helps local people into work

A Construction Academy scheme organised by Kingdom Housing Association’s Fife Works employability project has continued its success by recently finding three Inverkeithing jobseekers full-time roles on local projects.

James Heard and Shaun Gillan have both completed Academy course and turned work experience with housebuilder Campion Homes into full-time employment as general labourers, while a third resident has also gained employment within the industry.

Lynne Dunn, Kingdom’s Fife Works manager, says: “We have recently completed our latest construction academy in partnership with Campion Homes, our main contractor for the regeneration development in Fraser Avenue, Inverkeithing. Priority for spaces on the Academy was given to local individuals, particularly those from south-west Fife and Inverkeithing.”

Julie Watson, development manager with Kingdom, recently met with Shaun and James on site. She says: “All the participants who took part in the Construction Academy have been very excited about the prospect of new employment and we are particularly pleased that three of the local Inverkeithing residents are directly benefitting from the programme.”

James says: “The Academy gave me really useful skills and qualifications and I’m really pleased to be in full time employment”, while Shaun, who will be moving in to one of the new homes on the Fraser Avenue project, feels doubly pleased:  “This was a great opportunity to move into construction work and a chance to participate in the work carried out in Fraser Avenue. It was great being part of the team building my new home.”

During 2017/18, 36 people completed training and 27 entered employment with three Construction Academies from Fife Works, a result of the wide programme of construction Kingdom is currently undertaking. Bill Banks, group chief executive with Kingdom, says: “The regeneration project in Inverkeithing is a major project and from the start of the project, we have been trying to fully engage with the local community, to ensure their housing needs and views are reflected in the proposals.

“One of the wider objectives of our development programme is to optimise the community benefits that can be gained from new affordable housing investment and the construction academy is a very good example of how the programme can help young people, who are living in the local community, secure sustainable employment.”

Dougie Herd, Campion’s joint managing director, adds: “Campion Homes are delighted with the positive outcomes from the academy which have helped us engage with the local community and create new jobs for local people.”

Come to listen and talk about housebuilding careers – apprenticeship, diversity, training and leadership – at our New Homes Debate in London on Thursday 15 March 2018.

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