Home: News
Construction Students take a bow
16th June 2008
A group of North Essex students who completed a unique construction training scheme has been honoured at a special presentation held in Colchester Town Hall.
Colchester Mayor Peter Crowe - himself a former construction apprentice – congratulated the five apprentices who completed the first construction scholarship scheme launched by Colchester-based Colne Housing, as part of its 35th anniversary year celebrations.
“I recognise all the work which has gone into achieving these certificates and I congratulate Colne Housing for its foresight in helping these young people begin their working lives in the growing construction sector.
“It is important that young people learn about building communities and the excitement of creating new homes for the future - I wish them every success.”
The students, all Colne Housing residents, had spent three months learning a range of skills including bricklaying, paving, tiling and guttering. They had refurbished part of a Colne Housing supported housing scheme for people with learning disabilities in Colchester.
The students were jointly funded on the 12-week programme by Haven Gateway and Colne Housing which owns and manages over 2,000 affordable homes across Essex including Maldon, Colchester and Clacton.
Each student was presented with a certificate and their CSCS card which will enable them to work on construction sites within the EU.
The winning students are: Brian Seager, aged 18, a former St Helena School student of Magdalen Street, Colchester; Carl Rollin aged 22 of Curtis Close, Clacton; Tom Hardie, a former Sir Charles Lucas College student aged 19, of Arnold Drive Colchester and Donna Chisnall, a former Plume School student, aged 20 from Heybridge near Maldon.
All the students were trained on site by Ken Cane and Len Johnson of United Skills at Maldon.
Colne Housing’s Chairman Bill Frame said: “We congratulate all our winning students and we are proud that they now have the skills to get on site and start a worthwhile career
“The future of affordable housing depends on people getting qualifications to work in this area. Colne Housing is proud to be one of a very limited number of housing associations in the country who have set up an apprenticeship scheme to invest in the future of our residents and local industry in this way.”
For other news, please view our Press Release and Newsletter archives.
