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Foundations for future employment

Two young apprentices have been offered the chance to lay the foundations for their future careers, whilst building new homes on a development in Burnley.

Keepmoat Homes' Towneley Gardens site is being developed through a partnership with Burnley Council and will see 121 properties built on the Burnley Wood site, just off Oxford Road.

The apprenticeships will run for two years, with site staff supporting the pair in learning the key skills required.

Christopher Bullock, 16, left school in the summer and feared he was entering an employment market with fewer opportunities. However, the chance to join Keepmoat Homes opened the door to a brick laying apprenticeship on the Towneley Gardens development - just a ten minute drive from his home in the village of Worsthorne.

He said: "It's been fantastic. I'm learning something new everyday and am really enjoying my time on the site. This is a great opportunity and I'm looking forward to becoming fully qualified and having a good knowledge of the trade."

Michael Howard, 17, from Piccadilly - just a 20 minute walk from Towneley Gardens - joins Christopher on the site through a joinery apprenticeship.

He had been doing occasional temporary jobs since leaving school last year but was thrilled to get the chance to develop the skills of his chosen profession: "I've wanted to do this for a while now and I'm delighted to be on site, learning new skills and working towards becoming a fully qualified joiner," said Michael: "I'm really enjoying working with the lads on site. They're a great bunch and have taught me so much already."

Lesley Hibbins, Keepmoat Homes Training Co-ordinator, believes that building houses is just one part of re-developing and energising a local area. She said: "We believe strongly in supporting the communities in which we build. By offering positions for apprenticeships through Accent we are not just regenerating the area but regenerating the work force too.

"We are offering young local people the chance to train, develop and become skilled workers at a time when these opportunities are few and far between."

Keepmoat Homes is currently supplying apprenticeships to 34 people on developments across the UK.

Both Michael and Christopher were alerted to the opportunities by the Accent Group - a community investment business that works across health, housing, education and regeneration. It set up Accent Community Partnerships to deliver regeneration projects, helping disadvantaged communities to help themselves through training, employment and capacity building.

For more information about Towneley Gardens and careers with Keepmoat Homes visit http://www.keepmoathomes.co.uk/about-us/careers/