Build Magazine August 2015

Build Magazine 29 Inside the Industry addresses the skills shortage in the sector by helping more people access new training, work experience, job and apprenticeship opportunities in the sector. Last year, Circle Housing’s programme created more than 5,000 training and employment oppor- tunities for people living in local London communities. The company also works with other housing associations and contractors in London as partners in the Evolve shared apprenticeship scheme, which helps create more opportuni- ties for apprentices in the capital so that they can complete their training. Evolve is London’s first not-for-profit shared apprenticeship scheme backed by the CITB, following the success of similar schemes running up and down the country. The cen- tral aim is to remove the burden of traditional apprenticeship programmes on individual employers by spreading the cost and training obligations across several organisations and matching newly recruited apprentices with different employers over the course of their training. This creates serious programmes that enable apprentices to complete their training and provide the much needed con- struction professionals to build the homes of the future. Circle anticipate that 500 new construction opportunities will be given to Londoners over the next decade as a result of this particular project. Circle Housing believes that the housing sector can support hundreds more people to gain the right skills and qualifications so they can drive the construction industry forward. The key to all of this is working collabora- tively with contractors, local authorities and other housing associations. More information about Circle Housing’s programme can be found at www.Circleop- portunities.org.uk