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Young Harrogate apprentice highly commended in UK National Building Awards
DATE PRESS RELEASE ISSUED: 4 November 2008
YOUNG APPRENTICE HIGHLY COMMENDED IN UK NATIONAL YOUTHBUILD
AWARDS
One of the first young people chosen to take part in a
pioneering housing project in the Harrogate district has been
highly commended in the 2008 UK Youthbuild Awards.
Louis Ridgway got his first step on the housing and career
ladder through the Harrogate Youthbuild project when he was chosen
to work on the conversion of a property in Mayfield Grove with the
promise that it would become his new home.
Working alongside contractors to turn the property into three
self-contained flats, Louis impressed local construction company,
Christopher Construction, so much with his enthusiasm and
willingness to learn that they have now taken him on as a full time
apprentice.
Congratulating Louis on his award and his apprenticeship,
Councillor Jean Butterfield, Cabinet Member for Housing says the
youthbuild project has been a win win success.
She said: "Mayfield Grove was the first of the
youthbuild projects and we promised to deliver
more. A second property was bought and converted
in Spa Lane, Starbeck and trainees are now working on a third in
Mafeking Street, Harrogate. Another three
properties are in the pipeline with work starting in January 2009
on a property purchased by Home Housing Association.
"Louis earned his apprenticeship and has certainly rewarded
our confidence in him. I am also pleased to
learn that another trainee, Tony Fitzsimmons, has recently won the
Dr B's *E2E@Starbeck achiever of the year
award. (*E2E "entry into
employment")
Trainees, who attend Harrogate College one day a week to take
part in the NVQ educational programme, earn a weekly wage and, if
they stay with the project, they are able to rent one of the new
homes.
Another of the youthbuild project partners, Accent Group, has
a commitment to supporting local trainees as part of its social
housing development and said that engaging with contractors such as
Christopher Construction has helped to make it easier for employers
to recruit locally.
Managing Director, Paul Christopher added:
"As a family run business, and one of the oldest established in
Yorkshire, we want to give young people the chance to reach their
full potential. Most of our staff have worked
for the company for many years and we hope that Louis will be part
of our new generation of employees set to take the company into a
new era." ENDS
NOTE TO EDITORS: Youthbuild is an
innovative project not yet widely delivered across the country but
the Harrogate Youthbuild Trust has drawn on experience of both the
Leeds and Bradford Youthbuild Trusts.
The aim of youthbuild is to help young people aged 16 to 25
who have not achieved through traditional academic/vocational
routes and are generally not in education, employment or
training.
Funding for the Harrogate Youthbuild Trust has come from
Harrogate Borough Council, Accent Group, the Golden Triangle
Partnership, the Harrogate and District Safer Communities
Partnership, Learning and Skills Council, North
Yorkshire County Council Community Fund, Harrogate College, North
Yorkshire Forum for Voluntary Organisations, Leeds Federated
Housing Association, Home Housing Association and
Connexions.
Christopher Construction is one of the oldest
established construction companies in the Yorkshire region having
been trading since 1895. Most staff have worked
for the company for many years one, now in his sixties, has worked
for the company for nearly fifty years.
MEDIA CONTACT: Councillor Jean
Butterfield is available for comment on 01423
770381. Further technical information is
available from Alan Jenks, Head of Housing, on 01423
556849.