Construction course building new careers in North Wales

A CONSTRUCTION course is building new careers to help meet demand in the sector.

Conwy Employment Hub – which oversees Communities for Work, PaCE and Communities for Work Plus – has been delivering jobs and skills opportunities in partnership with social housing enterprise Procure Plus and Mochdre-based RELM Construction.

Among those to have benefited is Tom Whitworth, who secured a role with RELM Construction after impressing on a placement as part of a two-week practical and classroom-based course which covered themes such as manual handling, environmental awareness, health and safety, how to use power tools and equipment safely, and working at height.

Tom, from Llandudno, said: “I had previously worked in catering but wanted to try a new career and discovered this course with Conwy Employment Hub.

“I was looking for help and I found it with them after coming across so many obstacles; they were really helpful and pointed me in the direction of the construction course, which was fantastic.”

The 30 year-old added: “I would advise anyone in the Conwy area to get in touch with the Employment Hub because they help get rid of barriers to work and are always on hand with support and advice.

“For my placement to turn into a full-time job with RELM Construction is brilliant, and I am enjoying the day-to-day experience, learning new skills all the time and looking forward to the future.”

The company, which specialises in the planned and reactive maintenance sector, as well as catering for commercial refurbishment schemes, praised Tom for his “positive attitude” and “eagerness to learn”.

Kate Parker, Senior Regeneration Manager at Procure Plus, added: “We’re thrilled our partnership with Conwy Employment Hub has helped people like Tom secure good quality sustainable jobs with great local construction employers like RELM.

“We have similar partnerships across the whole of North Wales, working with a variety of community groups and employers.

“As Tom has discovered, construction is a great industry and there are plenty of opportunities in a variety of trades and settings.

“Procure Plus’s work across North Wales provides people with the free training, skills and placements needed to be able to take advantage of those jobs, regardless of age, background or experience.”

Plans are in the pipeline for further skills programmes with Procure Plus in 2022, given a national shortage of construction candidates.

There is widespread demand for more skilled employees in numerous trades including scaffolding, carpeting, bricklaying, and electrical engineering, which, according to a recent survey by the CBI, could last for “years”.