Unemployed residents taught new skills
A building company in London is tackling unemployment and encouraging residents to learn new skills.
Kier Building Maintenance (KBM) London is offering residents of Hanwell the chance to learn new skills on an eight week programme of DIY courses. KBM is working for Ealing Homes and alongside Arms Length Management Organisation which looks after 9,000 of Ealing Council's properties.
KBM will teach local people basic household maintenance jobs whilst the DIY scheme teaches health and safety risk assessment, electrics, plumbing, tiling and carpentry. It will also be covering painting and decorating skills.
Students who have already completed the course have worked alongside professional staff to renovate an empty property up to a standard suitable enough for the property to be let. KBM London also teamed up with Ealing Homes to make and provide a DVD for residents giving tips for basic property maintenance for which they are responsible.
Recent figures revealed that Ealing has one of the highest rates of unemployment (10.4 per cent) and worklessness (36 per cent) in West London. More than 70,000 residents of Ealing are of working age but not in employment, representing 25 per cent of workless people in West London.
KBM London hope that teaching residents such skills they will not only prove useful in everyday life, but also will be attractive to potential employers.
KBM London client liaison manager at Ealing, Martin Clifford, told Ealing Today: "Worklessness is a real issue in our borough with many long-term unemployed. It's vital these people have access to training such as this and we've been thrilled with the interest shown."
"Our group of participants is full of a diverse mix of nationalities, sexes and residents of differing ethnic backgrounds who are all taking a real interest. I hope this provides them with life-long skills."
Author: Hannah McLaverty-Williamson
Keywords: maintenance jobs