London councils beat Sir Alan to find the pick of the apprentices
Date: 24/03/09
150 young people from Camden and Islington are fighting the effects of the recession by winning apprenticeships and training courses on one of the biggest developments in the UK - the King’s Cross redevelopment.
The students will be trained in trades including carpentry and bricklaying at the new state of the art King’s Cross Construction Skills Centre. The centre is officially opened today (Monday 23 March) by Richard Barnes, deputy mayor of London, and Lord Tony Young, parliamentary under secretary for apprenticeships and skills. It is the first completed building on the 63 acre redevelopment site.
Carillion Construction Training has been appointed by Camden Council to train the new apprentices at the centre. Carillion will work with building contractors to deliver bespoke national skills accredited training that match the skills needed on construction sites
Alonso Mehmet (17 years old), a bricklaying apprentice with King’s Cross Construction said:
"I’m finding the course really interesting. In the future, I want to be able to walk past a wall and say ‘I did that’, and be proud of what I have done in my life".
150 apprenticeships are available each year for out of work or unskilled Camden and Islington residents, and are primarily aimed at 16 to 24 year olds.
Councillor Keith Moffitt, Leader of Camden Council, said:
"The opening of this centre is a key part of our efforts to help young people in Camden and Islington find the training and employment they need during these difficult times. I am particularly excited to know that training in new building techniques that will help us green our way out of the recession will be provided here".
Councillor Andrew Marshall, executive member for community development and planning and deputy leader for Camden Council, said:
"King’s Cross Construction was set up to make sure local people benefit from the jobs created by the redevelopment. During the recession, it is now more important than ever that we offer residents the opportunity to learn skills needed to secure the jobs that are available. By working with building contractors, we can give local people the competitive edge."
Robert Evans, director of Argent (King’s Cross) Ltd, and Asset and development manager of King’s Cross Central said:
"This new training facility positions King’s Cross Central as a centre for excellence providing work-based learning. We are creating an exciting new part of London and this centre will make a vital contribution both to the training of Londoners in construction skills and delivering significant local regeneration benefits."
John McDonough, chief executive of Carillion, said:
"Carillion is delighted to be involved with this project. Carillion is the UK’s leading private sector provider of construction training, with 19 dedicated training centres across the UK. Currently, we are providing construction training for around 2,400 people, improving their opportunities for employment and helping to ensure that the industry has a well-trained workforce for the future."
Notes to editors:
1. More detailed case studies, photos of apprentices, and launch event photos are available.
2. Case study: Alonso left school with two GCSEs and then completed a two-week ‘get into construction’ course with Kings Cross Construction while he was waiting to get onto his apprenticeship, learning bricklaying, carpentry, scaffolding, tiling and banksman duties.
3. King’s Cross Central is being developed by the King's Cross Central Limited Partnership, acting by its general partner, the King's Cross Central General Partner Ltd (KCCGP). The KCCGP Board is chaired by Sir David Clementi and is currently a partnership between three companies which all have seats on the Board, including Argent King’s Cross Ltd Partnership, London & Continental Railways Ltd and DHL Supply Chain.
4. Since 2004, King’s Cross Construction has trained 2,500 young people in everything from carpentry and brickwork to plumbing and electrical maintenance at the old centre. It has helped 1,500 trainees pass their construction skills certification scheme tests and 1,000 people into work.
5. The majority of the apprenticeships at KXCSC will be linked to jobs available on the King’s Cross Central development, which is one of the largest in the UK.
6. For more information about King’s Cross Construction and construction training available visit kingscrossconstruction.co.uk or call 020 7974 5161.
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Page last updated Mar 24, 2009 10:50 AM
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