Good practice Local labour successes
01.05.2007
But since enrolling to work as a groundworker on Solon SW’s Moorfields site, the 36-year-old former waiter from Mogadishu has learnt new skills and is working towards qualifications.
Mahamed says: “This is brilliant. I’m laying pipes and digging foundations, and still get to spend time in college, as well as two days a week on site.”
Mahamed and his 19 year old colleague John Connolly started in early 2007 on the 10-home development in the Barton Hill New Deal for Communities area.
In the last year, Sovereign Housing Group’s Construction Links project has secured placements for seven unskilled unemployed young men in Barton Hill, so they can benefit from the construction opportunities in their neighbourhood, and eventually become skilled tradesmen.
Construction Links Coordinator Adrian Seel said: “A lot of these lads need encouragement and mentoring, so it wouldn’t be as successful if we were placing dozens of them all over these building sites. By focusing our efforts on a handful, we can provide extra support.
“It’s not easy persuading contractors to take on labourers they’re not familiar with, but once they’ve tried it out, the effort has definitely been worth it.”
Moorfields site manager for Pearce Group, Warren Hulsen, added: “It’s been a real success. It’s great to have people from the local area, and the fact they are so keen to help has made it a pleasure.”
