Constructing careers with Coastline

Social landlord Coastline Housing in Cornwall has launched a new project to help its customers and the wider community to get jobs within the local construction industry.

The housing charity, based in Redruth, will be working in partnership with Work Skills Training Academy, Positive People and Mi-space, part of the Midas Group, to give local people the opportunity to gain some qualifications and work on a ‘live’ site as part of an eight-week training programme. The project has been part-funded by the Positive People Building Better Opportunities Big Lottery Fund.

Louise Beard, Director of Housing, Assets and Communities at Coastline Housing, explains: “The Coastline Construct programme supports those who are currently unemployed, offering them the chance to gain the vital Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) card, practical training on a controlled site, and a three-week work placement on a live construction site. Initially available at a site in Helston, participants will learn first-hand the tools of the trade.”

Mi-space recently started work on Coastline’s £8million, 75-home affordable housing development on land near Nansloe Primary School in Helston.

David Pengelly, Operations Manager for Mi-space, said: “There is a massive shortfall of construction workers within Cornwall and the country as a whole and helping address this is part of our commitment to the communities we work in. So we are very pleased to be able to help make this project a focus for a specific back to work programme which has the potential to make a real difference to lots of lives.”

Coastline Construct will provide both classroom and practical training, covering the various trades including masonry, carpentry, plastering, groundworks, cleaning, admin and health and safety.

Coastline and its partners will be holding a recruitment day for the programme on Tuesday 10^th July 2018 at Coastline House, Pool, from 12pm – 2pm and Wednesday 11^th July 2018 at The Old Cattle Market, Helston, from 1pm – 3pm.

Anyone interested and over the age of 18 is welcome to go along and find out more.

The first cohort will begin in the classroom in July, and will be on site in August, followed by more candidates on a rolling basis. Upon completion of the programme, participants will be supported to seek paid employment or further training.

More information is available on Coastline Housing’s website.