THURROCK Council has teamed up with youth charity the Prince’s Trust to run a free construction training programme in October for unemployed young people aged between 18 and 25.

The programme is back to give another fourteen young people from Thurrock the chance to gain valuable skills and experience in the construction industry following the success of a course that ran earlier this year.

The full-time training programme will run from Monday, October 20 to Friday, November 14.

Initial informal interviews are taking place at Gray’s Job Centre Plus from Monday October 6 with the final selection at a taster day on Tuesday October 14

. Participants on the training programme will learn new skills and boost their self-confidence by completing two weeks of college training followed by two weeks of work experience with major construction employers.

Six months of further career support will be provided after the course by the Prince’s Trust. Three in four young people supported by the Prince’s Trust move into work, education or training.

Paul Haggerty, a young person who completed the training in May, said: “The Prince’s Trust Construction programme helped me find the right career path.

I’ve now been taken on by Keepmoat as a trainee site manager and I’m also studying a BTEC Level 3 construction course with a local college. I would thoroughly recommend it to anyone.”

Barbara Brownlee, Director of Housing, said: “The training programme provides a real opportunity for young people to realise their potential and get started on the road to achieving a fulfilling career.”

“Construction offers a broad range of careers opportunities – including customer service, business administration, finance, IT and site management as well as the different trades.

"The course provides an overview of careers available and will prepare young people to apply for construction jobs and apprenticeship opportunities in Thurrock.”

“Working together with our partners, Keepmoat, Wates and Mulalley, we are able to make a positive difference to the lives of young people in Thurrock and ensure that their talents are recognised”.

To find out more and book an informal interview, contact Carla Johnson on 07984 005934 or email carla.johnson@princes-trust.org.uk