Constructed Pathways, working in conjunction with master developer Urban&Civic, has successfully piloted its six-week intensive Bricklaying Skills Bootcamp at Waterbeach.
Six learners successfully completed the course and have now progressed to work experience opportunities, paid work or are entering interview/trial processes.
The programme, which teaches basic bricklaying techniques such as cavity and solid wall construction, also includes self-employment education sessions delivered by Inspire2Ignite. Successful participants are supported to secure a CSCS card that reflects their recently acquired skills and are ready to start working on a construction site.
Constructed Pathways has started to gain the interest of the construction industry, with one bricklaying organisation offering work experience and to assist the future development of the course. For those who have not yet found employment, the Constructed Pathways team will continue to provide advice and support to connect them with potential opportunities until they secure a job.
Dan Edwards, Director of Constructed Pathways said: “We’re delighted with how well the course has gone. It has taken individuals that have never laid a brick before to building a cavity wall, with some of our outstanding candidates able to do more complex features like lintelled openings. Learners have not only grown in skills but have also developed a greater sense of pride, purpose and resilience.”
“Feedback from partners during the course is helping further develop the initiative to meet industry needs and we would like to thank ECL Civil Engineering for providing the materials and tools for the bricklaying course and NHBC for assisting us with the training syllabus.”
All learners that took part in the pilot scheme live in Cambridgeshire and were signposted to the course from the Department of Work and Pensions, FutureIN, Trac and charity partners Abbey People and Inspire 2 Ignite (I2I).
The construction industry has been facing a labour shortage for a long time, with a particular shortage of bricklayers. Constructed Pathways is working with Urban&Civic, through the CITB’s National Skills Academy for Construction, to support innovative opportunities for people to access entry level roles in the construction industry. An industry that, once entered, provides a breadth and depth of opportunities for further development and growth.
Rebecca Britton, Regional Director for Waterbeach masterdeveloper Urban&Civic, said: “With skills shortages in the industry and strategic developments being delivered at Waterbeach, Wintringham and Alconbury Weald – and across the county over the next twenty years – it is important for us to work with our housebuilders and contractors to identify skills gaps and support training so local people can access jobs and develop careers in construction and the built environment.”
“We’ve established each of these developments as a National Skills Academy for Construction – with a framework supporting contractors and housebuilders to support opportunities for local people, and training courses and skills hubs to support that – and Constructed Pathways is our delivery partner making it all come to life. We are delighted the Bricklaying Skills pilot has had such positive results and are looking forward to the next steps in embedding this and other intensive courses to support both opportunities for local people and support to the industry to grow.”
Find out more at www.constructedpathways.com.
We are delighted the Bricklaying Skills pilot has had such positive results.
