Six construction students from West Cheshire College have started work placements at Sanctuary Group’s £19.5 million redevelopment of The Parade in Blacon.
The students, aged between 16-19, have begun a two-week placement at the leading housing and care provider’s flagship regeneration project which will see the creation of 62 affordable new homes, as well as a community centre, library and new businesses.
The students are part of West Cheshire College’s Ready4Work Programme and are benefitting from a partnership between Sanctuary and Rowlinson Constructions Ltd which is giving local young people the chance to learn skills needed for a career in the construction industry.
The students will also get the chance to work on further Sanctuary development sites in Lache and Upton as part of their placements.
Libbie Stock, youth engagement officer for Chester and District Housing Trust, said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for these students. We want to continue to improve the lives of young people in Chester and are developing our partnership with Rowlinson and West Cheshire College by also offering work placements in administration, construction and many more areas. We hope these placements provide the students with the foundations to start building a successful career.”
Chris Mitchell, West Cheshire College engagement coordinator, said: “We have had some really positive feedback from students from the visit. I think it shows a real commitment from Sanctuary and Rowlinson’s to support local young people to find employment. The managers who took us round the site were really good role models and made a big impact on the young people.”
