The eighth cohort of military veterans has graduated from our groundbreaking property maintenance course, which is just entering its second year.
The veterans gain practical skills in bricklaying, plastering, wall tiling, decorating, joinery and plumbing leading to a Certificate in Multi Skills during their five week intensive course with Reaseheath Construction. If successful they are also awarded a Level 1 Award in Health and Safety which allows them to apply for their CSCS (Construction Skills Certification Scheme) card, a requirement to work in the building industry.
The training is delivered in partnership with armed forces training charity Building Heroes. We are one of just three colleges to offer this course currently and have trained 74 veterans to date. The ninth cohort has already begun its training.
Ninety-three percent of graduates go straight into employment or into further education to increase their knowledge and skills. Some will join expanding property maintenance service Heroes 4 Hire-Handymen and are supplied with a liveried van and tools, enabling them to deliver a service directly to homeowners.
Describing the scheme as ‘very successful’, Brendan Williams, Chief Executive of Building Heroes, confirmed that the charity will continue to support the training and continues to move towards its target of having 2,000 veterans trained and in skilled employment in the construction and related industries.
He emphasised that there was high demand for skilled professionals within the industry and the charity was continuing to create partnerships with large and small employers to help fill these vacancies.
The latest graduates received their certificates from The Mayor of Cheshire East Councillor Arthur Moran and Mayoress Carole Thomas. Councillor Moran said: “These ex-servicemen have been doing a key role helping to defend our country and are now looking for a new career. They are being offered this wonderful opportunity at Reaseheath, where the facilities and training are first class. What is most impressive is that this training leads to real jobs and these servicemen can take pride in their achievements.”
The graduates were:
Luke Finlay (Royal Navy), Lee Potter (Fourth Battalion The Rifles), Alex Dewar (Royal Engineers), Daniel Twidale (Royal Engineers), Niel Davies (Royal Welsh Fusiliers), Stephen Soar (Parachute Regiment), Giles Platt (Queens Dragoon Guards).
For more about our construction courses see www.reaseheath.ac.uk/construction
