Published Fri, Apr 29th 2016
A development in Middlesbrough has given employment, training and work experience opportunities to local people thanks to the efforts of The Riverside Group and Gentoo Construction.
Posted via Industry Today. Follow us on Twitter @IndustryToday
A development in Middlesbrough has given employment, training and work experience opportunities to local people thanks to the efforts of The Riverside Group and Gentoo Construction.
The site at Grange Road has seen 10 students receive a live construction site visit, three apprenticeships have been safeguarded and four work placements are underway for students from Middlesbrough College covering mechanical and dry lining trades, with more placements to come.
Julie Gray, Assistant Director of Development and Regeneration, Riverside said: “Gentoo Construction and Riverside have worked really well together on this development and we support the work and the training opportunities this project has given to local people. I am delighted that this support is helping local people to gain valuable experience”.
Four people from the local community who were previously unemployed have been given a job on site covering an Assistant Project Manager role, a Tele-Handler and General Labourers.
Damien Bell, General Labourer on site, said: “It’s been a fantastic opportunity getting some long-term employment on site as before this I had been out of work for a while.
“I’ve learnt a lot from everyone I’ve met on site, realising theimportance of team work, health and safety and taking pride in the job I do – it’s been a great learning experience and provided me with some new skills to take with me.”
Paul Webster, Managing Director of Gentoo Construction, said: “It’s great that we can work with like-minded businesses such as Riverside to deliver added value on our sites.
“We’re passionate about delivering great buildings and offering real opportunities for those people closest to where we’re operating. Although the build is coming to an end, it’s good to know there are some long-lasting benefits left in the local community.”
The site on Grange Road in Middlesbrough has been developed by Riverside to provide a supported residential building, comprising of 20 self-contained flats of the highest quality of social housing, along with training facilities to support people into employment.
Other facilities within the scheme include a training kitchen where residents can learn about healthy eating and budgeting, IT training facilities and an interview room.
The site is due to finish in August 2016.
The photo attached, from left to right: Paul Webster, MD of Gentoo Construction, Joel Docherty, Connor McKittrick, Charlie Milburn and Julie Gray, Assistant Director of Development and Regeneration at Riverside.
