Securing full time positions

NEW RECRUITS: Cllr Mohammed Rafique (front, third from left), is joined by the new trainees on the ‘Re-Making Leeds’ programme

‘Re-making’ our city even better

Seventeen new intakes on an innovative heritage construction skills trainee initiative have been officially welcomed on to a ‘Re-Making’ Leeds programme this month.

Following a special ceremony held at Leeds Civic Hall, the trainees will now begin work-based training as part of ‘Re-Making Leeds’, which over the next year will offer the opportunity to learn a range of skills under the watchful eye of expert professionals and employers.

Funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF), and delivered by the council in partnership with the Leeds College of Building and York College, trainees have the opportunity through Re-Making Leeds to gain qualifications and practical experience in skills including; stonemasonry, brick work, carpentry and joinery, lime mortar plastering and rendering, wall and floor tiling and specialist lead work.

Through the programme, Re-Making Leeds trainees will also receive a weekly bursary as they learn and a contribution to their travel as well as training for a L2 Award in heritage construction.

Following its launch in 2014, Re-Making Leeds has enjoyed positive success, helping a number of previous graduates’ learn skills and secure full-time positions and employment with companies in a host of different sectors.

Guiding the trainees in this year’s programme are employers such as; Buttress Architects; CSJ Plastering; Canopy Housing; LATCH; LCC Parks & Countryside; LCC Restorations Ltd; Simpson (York) Ltd; Stephen Jefferson carpentry; Ventrolla and WGL Stoneclean and York Minster Stoneyard.

On hand to welcome the new recruits to Re-Making Leeds was Leeds City Council’s executive member for employment, enterprise and opportunity, Councillor Mohammed Rafique.

Councillor Mohammed Rafique, Leeds City Council’s executive member for employment, enterprise and opportunity said:

“It has been fantastic to see our Re-Making Leeds programme move forward with real purpose and offer trainees of all ages and especially many young people, the chanced to learn a range of heritage construction skills under the eye of high-quality experts.

“It was lovely to meet the new recruits in this year’s programme and wish them the very best as they begin their training. While the training can certainly be intense at times, it has already proven to be the gateway for previous graduates to not just learn a trade but also earn full-time employment which is fantastic news.

“Re-Making Leeds could not achieve what it has without the continued commitment of our partners Leeds College of Building and York College and of course those employers taking on a trainee, and again I would like to thank them for all of their efforts.”