The life of Louis Bienaime might easily have gone in a different direction, but instead he is a great example of how the construction sector can help turnaround the fortunes of individuals, and gain valuable employees. 

Uncertainty over employment, an appearance before the court, and limited outlook nearly took Louis on a downward trajectory. But despite the odds, Louis turned his life around and within two years, is now helping others improve their life chances as part of his role as a Customer Services Apprentice at Wates Living Space on the housing maintenance contract for Croydon Council, a key function which is supporting the company’s social values initiatives that help other young people.

After his brush with the courts, Louis’ family pointed him towards taking the Construkt course run by Serious About Youth at Croydon College. The Construkt programme focuses on those aged 16 to 25 years old from black, asian and minority (BAME) backgrounds, particularly those not in education, employment or training (NEETS). It provides individuals like Louis with pathways into construction industry and engineering careers, builds confidence, teaches team working, and in the case of those choosing a career in building, Health and Safety Level 1 and CSCS card training. The course also helps individuals secure apprenticeships, permanent employment and work experience, and has resulted in positive outcomes for more than 75 per cent of participants.

Louis joined the Construkt course sponsored by Wates, and it turned his life around. It gave him the confidence, knowledge, skills and ambition to work in the construction sector, and trained in how to work collaboratively in a positive team environment alongside others. It also taught planning, including practical exercises such as producing the technical as well as engineering elements involved in producing tenders. This includes building large scale models out of timber.

A key element the Construkt programme also involves preparing individuals for what comes after the course, including writing a CV and interview skills. This says Louis, was very significant in providing the confidence to tackle the jobs market, which again was made easier because another factor of the course is arranging for perspective employers to attend an end of course social get together.    

As a course sponsor, and because Wates has a hands-on approach to social and community projects it supports in Croydon and elsewhere, the course was visited by Jamie Clancy-Toomey, Social Value Manager at Wates, and that is where she and Louis first met. And it could also have been their only encounter. But it was not, thanks to Rommell Wallace, Co-founder and Director of Serious About Youth, who had become a trusted mentor to those on the course. Louis explains:

‘At the end of the Construkt course there was a celebratory get together attended by local employers. Lacking a bit of confidence, I wasn’t going to go in, but Rommell told me I needed to. That I needed to put myself forward in front of those who were offering apprenticeships. He told me nobody could do it for me. So I went, and I met Jamie again, and the result is me now working for Wates.’     

Louis was not the only one on the course to land an apprenticeship with Wates. Jermal Douglin-Kirton, another Croydon Student, got an apprenticeship as a carpenter, and at least two others have done the same course and undertaken work experience with Wates, with the potential of them going for a further internship or employment. The benefit to individuals is clear, but it also benefits the wider community and economy. 

As a Customer Services Apprentice, Louis’ primary role is in liaising with Croydon Council in the delivery of Wates housing maintenance contract services, and involves working with a wide range people and organisations to ensure services are provided to standard and on time. It involves constant learning, and Louis finds great reward in no two days being the same.

‘One of the great things about the job is the variety. One minute I can speaking with suppliers, the next it can be a liaising with someone in a council department. No day is the same,’ says Louis. 

However, a key part of Louis’ job is also helping to implement social value programmes run by Wates in Croydon, including supporting students work experience, helping the elderly with digital skills and community building projects planting allotments.  Louis also shares his experiences with other young people as part of the programme.  As Louis comments, ‘I’m in a great position to help others. Because of my experiences I can relate to people in ways that helps them, and allows them to find the right direction.

Louis recognises his life could be very different, and is absolutely clear about why his journey has taken the positive course that it has. Support from family, and being able to join the Construkt course, and the dedication of Wates in implementing social value commitments, but crucially, it is the influence of Rommell Wallace as an effective and influential mentor that pushed Louis into helping himself.

Louis emphasises there is an important lesson for others. There are opportunities for young people, but you have to make the most of them, to be bold in a positive way, and be prepared to get noticed for the right reasons. ‘Others cannot do it for you,’ he says.

Jamie Clancy-Toomey points out, the new phase of Louis’ life is a result of others creating opportunity, and Louis himself taking responsibility.

‘Wates provides a range of opportunities for young people. We provide finance for courses, plus support in other ways. There are opportunities out there created by Serious About Youth and others, but when it comes down to it, young people also have to put themselves out there.’

This sentiment strongly endorsed by Rommell Wallace.

‘In areas like Croydon, negatives circles of influence can be found all over, and it is often easy to get drawn in. But there are also positive entry points and avenues to be taken if individuals have the motivation,’ he says. ‘There is help, and the opportunities are out there to be taken.’

Rommell points out that more can be done to support young people with challenged backgrounds and bring forward talent that would otherwise be lost to the construction sector. The number of Construkt courses run is restricted to the number of companies willing to support them.  

‘Wates is really active in what it does, as are others, but we do need more support. If every company in the construction sector did just a little bit it would make a very big difference.’ 

Louis’ future is bright, but he is taking nothing for granted. He recognises there is a lot more to do and learn, but is looking forward to the future. One which features helping others as well as himself.

The construction industry is in a position to make a fundamental difference to the lives of young people in socially challenging situations, and benefit from it commercially at the same time. But replicating stories like Louis’ requires wider commitment to social values programmes.

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