Newground Together’s Enterprise team have been actively placing suitable candidates into 6-month Kickstart Work Placement opportunities since the scheme started in September 2020.
Bringing new talent into an organisation is a good way to widen a company’s talent pool. Providing wraparound support throughout the process, Newground Together work with employers to ensure young participants can achieve the skills needed for future success.
A government funded scheme has given opportunities to young people aged between 16 and 24 to be supported back into work. Aimed at people at risk of long-term unemployment and claiming Universal Credit by helping them to develop transferable skills it will increase their chances of sustained employment.
Kickstarter Scheme – finding work in Construction roles
Bringing new talent into an organisation is a good way to widen a company’s talent pool. Newground Together’s Enterprise team have been actively placing suitable candidates into 6-month Kickstart Work Placement opportunities since the scheme started in September 2020. Providing wrap around support throughout the process, Newground Together work with employers to ensure young participants can achieve the skills needed for future success.
Barnfield Construction took part in the scheme and with the help of Newground Together Employment and Enterprise team they were able to recruit Jack Grieve as a labourer on one of their construction sites.
Jack wanted to undertake work on a construction site working on the development of buildings as he felt he enjoyed work where he could use his hands and take part in a build.
Eager to get back into work, Jack met Jacky Mullaney, Newground Together Work Placement Officer at the local Jobcentre in Nelson where she was recruiting for Kickstarter placements within building roles at Barnfield Construction.
One particular placement was taking place at the Together Housing Group Development on Harrison Drive in Colne. Jacky advised Jack that a CSCS card could also lead him to take part in this work placement as a labourer. CSCS is a health and safety card which is a mandatory requirement when working on a construction site.
Motivated to get a placement with Barnfield Construction Jack offered to pay for the course himself, contacting Jacky several times to check when it would take place. Jacky organised a place on the CSCS course and the Kickstarter scheme at Barnfield Construction.
Jack Greive said of his experience:
“Being offered the opportunity to get a CSCS card and working for 25 hour a week as a site labourer has really benefitted me as getting slowly back into work gave me the chance to adapt to the work as well as the pace. On my first week on the site I felt really welcomed by the whole team, this has boosted my mental health and my self-esteem. I would recommend anyone to try the Kickstart scheme, it has helped and benefitted me in so many ways. Doing 25 hours is a great way to get back into work, if you are given the opportunity, you should definitely take it.”
During his time on the placement, he has been allowed to experience different job roles and has found he has an avid interest in Grounds and Maintenance work – three months into his placement he joined the Grounds team and is enjoying his role.
Jacky Mullaney, Newground Together Work Placement Officer said:
“Jack has recently been taken on by Barnfield Construction in a Trainee Grounds man role. He is so pleased. Jack has developed skills in all aspects of Grounds work and has let both the site manager and the area manager know that this was something he wants to pursue. He will now be able to get the company training as well as any CPD that will help him to attain a qualification and hopefully a career in Grounds work.”
Managing the Kickstarters, including Jack, David Shaw, the HSEQ Manager said:
“Jack has fitted right in, shown great enthusiasm and been hard working in everything he has been asked to do. Showing keenness and aptitude when supporting other team members, he has received excellent feedback from the project team. He’s the kind of site operative a successful constructor needs be recruiting, and we are pleased to have been able to offer him a permanent position, with planned training and development to suit his career pathways.”
“The way that Jacky from Newground Together has provided support and diligently screened applicants has been a delight. Her proactive approach has been welcomed and we would look forward to working with Jacky and Newground Together again in the future if a similar scheme is run. I was disappointed to hear the current scheme has been pulled, in my personal view it has been one of the few government employment support schemes over the years that have borne fruit. “
