Building Heroes Construction Multi-skills Course

Building Heroes Construction Multi-skills

Building Heroes at Reaseheath College

Empowering Veterans into Construction Careers

Reaseheath College and the armed forces charity Building Heroes have teamed up to deliver courses designed to support military veterans, service leavers and their families into fulfilling careers in the construction industry.

This scheme goes far beyond a traditional training course, it equips individuals with practical trade skills, qualifications, and vital confidence to make the transition from military life into civilian work.

About the Course

This is a Level 1 Diploma in Construction Multi-Skills delivered onsite at Reaseheath College. It is open exclusively to military veterans, service leavers and eligible family members through the Building Heroes programme.

What You Will Learn

Across the five-week course, you’ll gain practical experience in:

Bricklaying
Joinery
Plastering
Painting & Decorating
Wall Tiling
Laminate Flooring
Asbestos Awareness

You’ll also complete health & safety training and be supported to obtain a CSCS Labourer Green Card, giving you access to construction sites and employment opportunities.

Qualifications & Progression

On successful completion of the programme you will achieve:

Level 1 Diploma in Construction Multi-Skills
Level 1 Award in Health and Safety
Opportunity to gain a CSCS Green Card

After the course, many learners progress into:

Further technical qualifications (e.g. Level 2 Diplomas)
Employment as labourers, property maintenance operatives, builders, or trades assistants
Self-employment or roles with partner employers in the building sector

Apply via the Building Heroes Website

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Building Heroes Alumni

James Martin
James was part of the very first Building Heroes cohort at Reaseheath in 2017. With no prior experience in construction, he initially saw the programme as a leap into the unknown. That leap led him to a rewarding new career.

“After leaving the Army, I had no idea what to do. This course gave me a direction. I started labouring, worked my way up, and eventually became a site manager on major projects like the Commonwealth Games Village and Manchester’s new music venue.”

Now an account manager for a manufacturing company, James credits Building Heroes with putting him on the path to a whole new professional world.

Craig Ellis
Formerly part of the Royal Army Physical Training Corps, Craig left the military in June and has thrown himself into retraining with enthusiasm. Although he’d always been hands-on, the Building Heroes course gave him the technical tips and confidence to take on bigger projects.

“I’m now building an extension on my house — dormers, roofing, the lot. Six weeks ago I wasn’t sure I could, but now I’m all in.”

Craig enjoyed every element of the course, especially carpentry and additional practical tasks like patio and decking work. He hopes to move into property development and eventually build his own rental portfolio.

Nikita Silvera
Still serving in the Royal Signals, Nikita discovered Building Heroes at a career fair in Stafford. Encouraged by positive feedback from past participants, she enrolled to explore the intersection of health and safety and construction. The course helped her see how these disciplines merge in practice — and it’s already opening doors.

“We visited a live site at Lovell, and I spoke with a health and safety director there. That’s led to shadowing opportunities across three sites this month. I’d never have known those existed if it weren’t for this course.”

Nikita particularly enjoyed tiling and plans to take a follow-on course. With new contacts in Stafford and an interest in turning this into weekend or freelance work, she’s now exploring both practical and professional opportunities.

Chris Meachem

Chris served in the Artillery from 1985 to 2007, including deployments to Northern Ireland, Bosnia, Kosovo, and Iraq. After years of bouncing between jobs, he discovered Building Heroes in 2018 and joined the programme to renovate his own house. What started as a side project became a turning point.

“It wasn’t just the skills – it was the shared experience with other veterans that really brought me back to myself. The banter, the hands-on work, the respect – it’s something you don’t realise you’ve missed until you get it back.”

Now supporting his partner in international dog grooming competitions and pursuing his passion for golf, Chris still values the course for helping him regain purpose, direction, and confidence. He sees Building Heroes as a lifeline for veterans navigating post-service life.

Terry Suckling
After 25 years of service, Terry was weighing up his options between close protection work and a new direction. Although he’d had some hands-on experience in construction in the past, the Building Heroes course opened his eyes to the wide scope of opportunities in construction. He credits the five-week programme with boosting his confidence and giving him clarity about his next step.

“This has been the best five weeks. I’m more confident now, and I’ve even been offered a job starting in September working on HMOs in Chester. I’d absolutely recommend this to anyone transitioning out of service — it’s a no-brainer.”

Terry particularly enjoyed the brickwork and joinery modules, even if rendering wasn’t quite for him. He believes the course deserves more visibility among resettlement support channels and is a strong advocate for spreading the word.