Sparking a new career
We don’t just build great houses for our customers; we also help people to lay the foundations of a career.
One of our customers has been helped into a trade thanks to Great Places and members of the Salford Housing Partnership.
Tony (not his real name), whose family lives in a Great Places home, left school with a few GCSEs but not set on a vocation.
Great Places, alongside other members of the Salford Housing Partnership, worked together to support Tony’s ambitions and set him on a career in the construction industry.
He chose a career as an electrician, and began a Level 1 Electrical Installation course and after his first year did some short Health & Safety and first aid courses.
In 2022, Tony did his level 2 electrical installation course and towards the end of the year made contact with Great Places. Employability Coach Gill Rimmer helped him to get his CSCS card and our Contract Performance Specialist, Rebecca Cremin, arranged for some work experience with one of our contractors, Eric Wright, working on our Ancoats Dispensary project in Manchester.
In all, he completed six weeks’ work experience, which helped him gain confidence as well as new contacts in the construction industry, and we helped him to put his CV together and look for apprenticeships.
Gill stayed in contact with Tony as he completed his level 3 electrical installation course at Salford College, passing on any relevant vacancies.
Earlier this year, he applied for an electrical apprenticeship with Equans. Gill helped him prepare and he was successful in gaining his apprenticeship.
Tony emailed to say: "I've got the job and I really am over the moon. It takes so much stress off me. All this is because of the help you have given me the past year and I couldn't be more thankful for it all. I really do appreciate it, I finally got it in the end. Thanks again Gill!"
If you are interested in finding out how our Employment and Skills Team can support you, please get in touch with your Neighbourhood Services Manager.