Our fifth cohort of military veterans have graduated from a groundbreaking property maintenance course which will give them the skills to launch a new career.
The veterans have gained practical skills in bricklaying, plastering, wall tiling, decorating, joinery and plumbing during an intensive course with Reaseheath Construction. The training was delivered in partnership with armed forces training charity Building Heroes and national handyman service, Heroes4Hire-Handymen.
We are one of just two colleges to offer this course and have trained almost 50 veterans this year. The new graduates go straight into employment with H4H-Handymen and are supplied with a liveried van and tools, enabling them to deliver a worthwhile service to homeowners.
Ensuring that they are ready to enter the industry, the veterans have achieved a Level 1 Certificate in Health and Safety in the Construction Environment and the required Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) card in addition to their practical skills.
Construction Area Manager Andy Gould told the graduates: “Be in no doubt that you have the skills and attitude to launch successful new careers as Heroes4Hire-Handymen. And the Reaseheath construction team is still here for support and guidance if you feel you need it.”
Brendan Williams, Chief Executive of Building Heroes, said that the charity would continue funding the training and planned to have at least 1,000 veterans trained and in skilled employment in the construction and related industries by 2020.
Nigel Blanchard, Chief Executive of Heroes4Hire-Handymen, paid tribute to the excellent relationship his company had built up with both Building Heroes and Reaseheath, which enabled him to offer the veterans a direct path into employment.
The graduates received their certificates from Rob Kuzemko, Regional Director of national builders’ merchants Travis Perkins, which is also working in partnership with the initiative.
Darren Woolley, who served with the Grenadier Guards/ 4 logistic support regiment for 13 years said: “This was such a great opportunity, I leapt at it. It’s been a brilliant course which has given me a lot of skills and a lot of confidence, knowing I can carry out jobs in a professional manner.
“It’s offered me a lifeline and I’m looking forward to getting out in my van and doing a good job for my customers.”
Find out more:
www.reaseheath.ac.uk/construction
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