New project funding will support more local people into employment

Hull City Council and EN:Able Futures Community Interest Company (CIC) have been awarded almost £200k to deliver a project to invest in skills and support local people into employment.

The Pathways into Construction project will engage people more distant from the employment market and take them through a high-quality programme so they can pursue entry-level job opportunities in the construction and built environment sector.

The project will be based at the unique purpose-built Humber Construction Hub on Wawne Road in Hull. The hub was made possible by support from Hull City Council regarding the land.

EN:Able Futures CIC will host, lead and manage the action-packed 10-day Pathways Into Construction programme at the Humber Construction Hub’s site-based learning environment. The new programme will include a dedicated Development Coach providing key worker support to learners. The comprehensive package of training includes site visits, manual handling, health and safety, First Aid and Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) cards. Learners will also receive additional advice and guidance to support them into work, to help them gain and sustain employment and long-term careers in the industry.

The funding comes from the UK Community Renewal Fund (UKCRF), first launched in March this year. It’s a UK Government programme which aims to support people and communities most in need across the UK to pilot programmes and new approaches. It invests in skills, community and place, local business, and supporting people into employment. The fund is a key initiative in the government’s levelling up agenda, which aims to support people and communities most in need throughout the UK.

The Pathways into Construction project is aimed at those living in Hull and the surrounding area, in particular those aged 18 and over and unemployed for 18 months or longer or economically inactive; those not in education, employment or training aged 18 – 24 years and those unemployed aged 30 – 49.

Councillor Aneesa Akbar, who chaired the review panel, said: “The council is committed to reducing unemployment and opening up more opportunities to those who are unemployed.

“I’m delighted that the Pathways into Construction project has been awarded this funding. It means more local people can learn the skills they need for a career in the construction sector, an area which offers job security and is so critically important to our economy.”

Director of Operations at EN:Able Futures CIC Julie Deeley said: “The EN:Able Futures team is delighted to receive this funding. It will help us build on what we’ve already achieved delivering training for local people at the Humber Construction Hub to enable them to become employment and site ready and build a better future for themselves.”

Potential learners will be invited to sign up in January.

To find out more about the UKCRF, visit the website here.

Information taken from the Hull City Council website