Local apprentices set to work at £15m Loftus Housing Development
A team of four local apprentices have been recruited to support the £15m Hummersea Hills development in Loftus, where 128 new homes will be created.
Hosted by Esh Construction via the award-winning shared apprenticeship service EN:Able Futures – managed by Efficiency North – the new recruits have been welcomed on the housing site in Redcar and Cleveland.
The Loftus housing development is being delivered by Esh Construction on behalf of Beyond Housing and will provide 85 homes for affordable rent or rent to buy. A further 43 apartments, houses, and bungalows will have care and support services from an on-site support hub.
Mark Binns, Construction Director at Esh Construction, said: “We are delighted to welcome the new apprentices to site. Working alongside Efficiency North will enable us to provide a well-rounded training experience as well as ensuring the young people receive any pastoral and education support if they should need it.
“There is a clear skills shortage in the industry and shared apprenticeship schemes will help bridge this gap by training and developing talented individuals, who are ultimately the workforce of the future. At Esh, we believe in employing local, buying local and providing maximum benefit for our clients and their communities, a core value which is very much aligned with Efficiency North.”
The bricklaying and joinery apprentices, all from the Loftus area, will attend Redcar and Cleveland College on a day release basis and work on site for the remainder of the week to obtain valuable, hands-on experience in the industry.
Among the recruits is Kyle, aged 17, who lives just three miles from site. He said: “I previously studied Level 1 carpentry and joinery at Middlesbrough College and have been extremely lucky to secure a Level 2 joinery apprenticeship with EN:Able Futures so I can progress towards a career in construction.
“So far on site with Esh Construction, I have been training in first fix joinery, learning about installing stud wall frames and how roof trusses are installed. I’ve got a really creative mindset and have enjoyed doing some joinery work at home, so would like to develop a career in joinery full time on construction sites.”
The housing scheme was procured via the EN:Procure New Build Housing framework, with commitments made at procurement stage by Esh Construction to deliver social and economic value benefits for the local area, including job creation for apprentices and funding for community projects.
Hannah Norton, Development Coach at EN:Able Futures, said: “These apprenticeship opportunities were made possible due to the housing development being procured through EN:Procure’s New Build Housing framework.
“These types of partnerships can be crucial in delivering quality apprenticeships as together we offer a cohesive package of support along with valuable sector specific work experience on-site and quality teaching delivery through the college.”
Recruiting via Efficiency North’s EN:Able Futures programme ensures apprentices remain employed for the full duration of their apprenticeship, making it easier for businesses to take on an apprentice and reducing the risk of displacement.
