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LIFT construction opportunities

Published: 13/07/2016

LIFT Flintshire has been working in partnership with a number of contractors in Flint to offer LIFT clients opportunities through their community benefit schemes. One contractor, SERS Energy Solutions Ltd (SERS), who has been upgrading the exterior of the towers, offered 2 week work placements, 4 week work trials and employment opportunities. This proved to be of great value to LIFT clients and, through this process, three clients went onto gain full time employment on the Flint site. Flintshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Economic Development, Councillor, Derek Butler, said: “LIFT offered their clients who were keen to go into construction the opportunity to complete a Level 1 and Level 2 Health and Safety Course. This enabled them to obtain the Labourer CSCS card which is now a requirement to be allowed on construction sites. LIFT also equipped clients with personal and protective equipment (PPE) which included work wear and appropriate footwear. ”It’s a wonderful stepping stone for people who know what they would like to do but they are not sure how to get there. It’s great that 3 people have now found full-time work through this initiative – thanks to the partnership working of LIFT and our contractors working on the WHQS delivery programme.” One of these clients is Kane Fox. Nineteen year old Kane registered with LIFT in April last year and realised the construction industry was the career path he wanted to pursue. Flintshire County Council’s LIFT Project Mentor, Debbie Barker, said: “As Kane had no experience or qualifications in this field, we sourced the appropriate training and work experience for him. Organising a two week placement with Willmott Dixon and also booking him on to the CITB courses in Health and Safety for his CSCS card, First Aid with the Red Cross and a Working at Height Course with a local health and safety company in Mold. At the end of this training, Kane came away with a training portfolio and a glowing reference. As Kane showed commitment with LIFT, we then booked him onto a 5 day Fork Lift Truck Course which he passed.” This gave the LIFT team an opportunity to find Kane some work experience with SERS where Kane worked initially with the window fitters on a 2 week placement. Kane was then offered a work trial and in January this year was offered full time employment on site. The development is now coming to an end and Kane has been told he is being taken on as an apprentice on a permanent basis. Kane, talking about his experience with LIFT Flintshire, said: “LIFT gave me the opportunity not only to gain employment but to start on a career path. I am 19 years old and I now have a career goal. The qualifications I now have on my CV, together with my work experience, have given me the determination to fulfil my ambitions. Without LIFT Flintshire and the excellent opportunities they provided me with this, would never have been possible.” Kane is now working on a temporary contract with Warmer Energy, working on the heating system upgrade at the Towers in Flint. Contact Lift Flintshire on 01244 846090 or Debbie.barker@Flintshire.gov.uk to discuss qualifications and placements in the Construction industry. Lift Criteria: · Unemployed for 6 months plus · Live in a Communities First area · Live in a workless household From left to right Mark Phythian, FCC Contract Surveyor, Debbie Barker, Communities First, Cllr Derek Butler, Kane Fox, Tony Jones, FCC Capital Works Manager, Cllr Helen Brown, Cabinet Member for Housing, John Cottrell, SERS