Routes Into Construction - Case Studies 28-6-2016

Routes Into Construction Case Studies

Routes Into Construction:

Making a difference to the lives of young

people

Case studies from the Construction Youth Trust

Employment Engagement Coordinator: Paul Taylor 12th May 2016


April 2015 Construction Youth Trust’s initial focus was on employer engagement, and this resulted in the following relationships being established in April 2015 – Willmott-Dixon Interiors agreed to accept young people at six sites across central London Graham Construction agreed to accept young people at their SOAS site in Gower St WJ agreed to accept young people for experience of road marking and highways

maintenance, leading to an apprenticeship Discussions began with DWP to recruit young people from job centres across South London. Recruitment began in June 2015.

July 2015 Company: Willmott Dixon

Site: The Calthorpe Project

Placements: 3

Outcomes: 2 placements were completed.

The first placements were made with Willmott-Dixon in July. As part of the company’s annual ‘management challenge’, three young people were placed at the Calthorpe Project for two weeks. Two young people, Malakai and Indar, completed the placement.

Malakai Background: Malakai was 19 when he was referred to us by St Giles Trust for construction training in June 2015. Malakai gained experience of bricklaying on the course, and passed his CSCS test in July. Malakai’s main interest was in plumbing, although he was keen to get general site experience.

Placement: Malakai was involved in several different trades during his time at the Calthorpe Project, including P&D and labouring.

What did the employer think? Sam Bauckham, Willmott-Dixon management trainee, said “Malakai showed enthusiasm to the tasks which were set for him and was able to work well with staff members and trades we had on site.”

Outcome: Following the placement Malakai considered options for bricklaying and road marking work, and eventually decided to go to college to study plumbing.



August 2015 Company: Keepmoat

Site: TRA Hall, Slipper Lane

Placements: 3

Outcomes: 2 placements were completed.

As part of the Trust’s commitment to the local community in Southwark, we worked with Keepmoat to redecorate the local tenants’ association hall. Three young people were placed, with two young people completing the placement

BrandonBackground: Brandon was 18 when he was referred to us by Southwark Works for construction training in June 2015. Brandon gained a general understanding of joinery while on the course, and was keen to move to the next level and get work.

Placement: Brandon spent much of his time on placement doing P&D, and he also spent time doing bathroom fitting and general labouring.

What did the employer think? Patrick Warren, Keepmoat community manager, said “I was impressed with Brandon’s eagerness to learn and with his time keeping – Brandon was first to arrive each day.”

Outcome: Brandon was submitted for several apprenticeship opportunities following the placement, without success. He then decided to go to college, enrolling on a drylining course.



August 2015 Company: Graham Construction

Site: School of African and Oriental Studies, Gower Street

Placements: 1, which was completed

Graham Construction had agreed to accept young people from the Trust for one day a week to gain experience of professional roles, including document control, quantity surveying, and general site management. Graham had been commissioned to renovate the Senate House, which is the administrative centre of the University of London.

BabesBackground: Babes was 19 when she was referred to us by the Kings Cross Construction Centre. Up until then her experience was in retail, and she was looking for a varied career opportunity that would make use of her skills in finance.

Placement: While with Graham Construction, Babes became a general assistant for all manner of professional roles on site – from document control, to site management, to minute taking at key site meetings. Babes spent a lot of her time doing quantity surveying, and decided this would be her career path.

What did the employer think? Lisa Horlock, document controller for Graham Construction, said “Babes has a great personality and worked well with everyone on site.”

Outcome: Babes recognised that she would need to study to achieve her goal of becoming a quantity surveyor, and continues to look for job opportunities.



October 2015 Company: WJ

Site: Croydon

Placements: 1, who completed the placement

WJ provide road marking services to the London Highways Agency on major and minor roads across the south-east of England. The company were looking for a successful placement to lead to an apprenticeship.

RyanBackground: Ryan was introduced to the Trust by DWP. At first he provide difficult to deal with, refusing to answer his phone. With persistence, we got Ryan to re-engage with us, having convinced him that he had a chance of an apprenticeship with WJ

Placement: Ryan gained experience of road marking, labouring and banksman work with WJ, and made a great impression on all concerned.

What did the employer think? Dave Clark, senior contracts manager at WJ, said ”Ryan was enthusiastic and willing to learn, and was well-liked by his charge hand and other co-workers.”

Outcome: Ryan accepted a road marking apprenticeship with WJ – the first job outcome for Construction Youth Trust in the Routes Into Construction programme.



November 2015 Company: Willmott-Dixon

Site: Queen Victoria Street, Blackfriars, Tabernacle Street, Moorgate

Placements: 2, both were completed

The Tabernacle Street site was able to provide plumbing and drylining experience, while the site at Queen Victoria Street provided professional roles and the opportunity to gain experience of demolition.

ShaunBackground: The Trust met Shaun at London Bridge job centre. Shaun had just come back from travelling, and was looking for plumbing experience. Shaun was a few weeks short of his 25th birthday, and so the Trust would have to move fast to provide

Placement: We placed Shaun a week later with Willmott-Dixon at their Tabernacle Street site in Moorgate. Shaun spent most of the placement as a plumber’s mate, but also experienced plastering and general labouring.

What did the employer think? Richard Dawson, Tabernacle Street site manager, said “Shaun has made a good effort to use his time with us to its full potential. His time-keeping has been excellent and his work ethic has been very good”

Outcome: Shaun decided to go to college to gain formal plumbing training.



December 2015 Company: Brookfield Multiplex, Willmott-Dixon

Site: One Blackfriars, Blackfriars, Kensington Design Museum, High St Kensington

Placements: 4, three were completed

After much negotiation, the Trust was finally able to make its first placement with Brookfield Multiplex. The site is a 60 storey residential block being built at the south end of Blackfriars Bridge, and is a major source of jobs for Southward residents.The Trust had struggled with the young person experience with Willmott-Dixon and several young people had not completed placement. Willmott-Dixon placed extra resource at the Design Museum site, with a community manager directly supervising two young people from the Trust. Both completed their placement.

AaronBackground: Aaron was 18 when he came to the Trust in November 2015 to undertake a level 1 H&S in Construction course and CSCS training. Aaron showed an excellent work ethic during the course, and was keen to find opportunities that could win him a job.

Placement: Aaron was placed with Designer Group, who are Brookfield Multiplex’s M&E sub-contractor at One Blackfriars. During his placement Aaron experienced plumbing, electrical work, and labouring.

What did the employer think? John Anckiewicz, programme manager at One Blackfriars, said “Aaron is a very keen young man. He has impressed his supervisors”

Outcome: Aaron accepted an electrical apprenticeship with Designer Group in February 2016.



January 2016 Company: Brookfield Multiplex

Site: One Blackfriars site, Blackfriars

Placements: 3, two were completed

LorenzoBackground: Lorenzo was 17 when he came to the Trust in November 2015 to do a level 1 H&S course. Lorenzo quickly stood out as someone who was keen to get into work – he was the only one on his course to approach us directly to ask for work experience.

Placement: Lorenzo turned 18 in December, and was placed in January at One Blackfriars. During his placement Aaron experienced plumbing, electrical work, and labouring.

What did the employer think? Michael Cully, Brookfield Multiplex community manager, said “Lorenzo was open to learn new things and was very positive in his approach to work.”

Outcome: Aaron accepted an apprenticeship position with a window fitting firm in Camberwell in March 2016.



February 2016 Company: Willmott-Dixon

Site: Queen Victoria Street, Blackfriars

1 Puddledock, Blackfriars

IPO, Aldgate

Placements: 3, all were completed

AshBackground: Ash was first introduced to the Trust in Nov 2015, when we were recruiting for our Women-only cohort at Kings Cross Construction. Unfortunately, she couldn’t complete the women-only course due to housing difficulties. The Trust kept in contact with her and when her housing stabilised we placed her on a course in January 2016.

Ash took part in a 3 week carpentry course taking place in Kilburn Grange Play Hut, gaining the Level 1 Health and Safety in Construction and passing her CSCS test two days after finishing the course.

Placement: Ash spent two weeks with Willmott-Dixon Interiors at their site in Queen Victoria Street, Blackfriars, where she experienced document control, project management and quantity surveying. Ash impressed while she was on site, and was given the option to return to site for further work experience.

What did the employer think? Janine Frederick, project manager at Queen Victoria Street, said “Ash showed a positive attitude and a real interest in the construction sector.”

Outcome: Ash will be going back to university in September, where she intends to specialise in construction law!



March 2016 Company: Brookfield Multiplex, Willmott-Dixon, Herts Heritage, Osborne

Site: IPO, Aldgate

One Blackfriars, Blackfriars

Avondale Centre, Southwark

Cartwright Gardens, Kings Cross

Woodberry Down Estate, Stoke Newington

Placements: 10, eight were completed

HusseinBackground: Hussein came to the Trust in December 2015, when he completed an Entry Level 3 course in Construction. He returned in January to complete his level 1 H&S and CSCS test. Hussein impressed with his attitude and commitment

Placement: Hussein’s goal is to become a bricklayer, following in his father’s footsteps. So Hussein was place with Osborne at the Avondale Centre site on the Old Kent Road – Hussein worked as a hod-carriers mate and labourer with Osborne,

What did the employer think? Nycki Bertie, community manager for Osborne in Southwark, said “Hussein worked well mixing mortar and laying out bricks.”

Outcome: After the placement Hussein returned to the Trust for a period of volunteering with the latest course, inspiring a new set of young people to go into construction. Hussein accepted a bricklaying role with Osborne in May.





April 2016 Company: Brookfield Multiplex

Site: One Blackfriars, Blackfriars

Cartwright Gardens, Kings Cross

Placements: 3, all were completed

FrancisBackground: Francis came to the Trust in January 2016, completing his level 1 H&S and CSCS test with us at a course in Kilburn Grange Park. Francis had spent some time in prison, and was trying to overcome issues with alcohol and drugs, and was low in self-confidence. However, he impressed us all with his commitment to change his life for the better

Placement: A placement had been planned for Francis at Cartwright Gardens in March, but due to difficulties with Francis’ housing this was postponed until April. Francis had some difficulties getting started, but once on site he impressed everyone with his commitment and enthusiasm. Francis did an M&E placement with Briggs & Forrester.

What did the employer think? Julie Bowerman, senior H&S / logistics supervisor for Briggs & Forrester, said “Francis is very keen and willing to learn, and he is always on time.”

Outcome: Briggs & Forrester immediately offered Francis a job as a plumber’s mate at Cartwright Gardens. Francis has also been offered funding by Camden Council to study plumbing at college.



May 2016 Company: Brookfield Multiplex, Wilmott-Dixon

Site: One Puddledock, Blackfriars

South Maudsley Hospital, Denmark Hill

32 Farringdon Road, Blackfriars

Placements: 4, 3 were completed

KelseyBackground: Kelsey was referred to us by the charity Streets of Growth in April, and completed her level 1 H&S and CSCS test with us at the Bermondsey training centre. Kelsey suffered from low self-confidence, but showed us clearly that she could be a gifted carpenter – her work ethic was second to none.

Placement: Kelsey went to Brookfield Multiplex’s Cartwright Gardens site, working with JT Ellis, Brookfield’s carpentry sub-contractor.

What did the employer think? Liam Doyle, site manager for JT Ellis, said “Kelsey worked well with her supervisors, Pete and Nick. It is a pleasure to have Kelsey as part of the team.”

Outcome: JT Ellis immediately offered Kelsey a job as a carpenter’s mate at Cartwright Gardens.



June 2016 Company: Brookfield Multiplex, Wilmott-Dixon

Site: Cartwright Gardens, Kings Cross

South Maudsley Hospital, Denmark Hill

One Blackfriars, Blackfriars

Polo Ralph Lauren, Regents Street

Metropolitan University, Aldgate

Placements: 5, ? were completed

RobertBackground: Robert came to us in February 2016, and completed his level 1 H&S and CSCS test with us at the Kingsbury Community Centre in Kilburn. Robert has worked in a number of different jobs and was in February doing event security – a low paid and insecure job. Robert wanted to make a career in construction so he could get some stability into his life.

Placement: We tried to place Robert with Lee Marley, the stonework contractor for Brookfield Multiplex at Cartwright Gardens. However, this project fell through, and so Robert was placed with Munnelly Logistics at the same site.

What did the employer think? Jose Mattos, head of operations at Munnelly Logistics, said “Robert was hard-working and always on time during his placement.”

Outcome: After his placement, Robert was offered a job at Cartwright Gardens by Munnelly Logistics as a logistics operative.




Documents

Routes Into Construction - Case Studies 28-6-2016