The Works Construction Academy

The Works is an innovative employment and training initiative transforming the life chances of local residents at the heart of our local communities in Moss Side, Ardwick and beyond. It is delivered as a partnership between The University of Manchester and The Growth Company.

The Works supports the employment and recruitment needs of employers, local people and government. In partnership with The University of Manchester, Manchester Metropolitan University, City South Manchester Housing Trust and Work Solutions, it provides opportunities and support to jobseekers, pre-recruitment and interview training as well as job matching to local employers, including the University.

One of The Works most recent projects, the six-week Construction Academy, engaged various organisations and programmes across Manchester to give candidates exposure into the construction industry and help them to access local opportunities. 13 candidates gained a CSCS Card, numeracy and literacy skills, a health and safety qualification and access to a wealth of industry knowledge from large construction contractors such as Vinci and Novus.

Upon completing the six-week training course, all 13 candidates were placed into work with some of the country’s largest and most well recognised construction companies that are working on University of Manchester’s £1billion campus master-plan. This can result in work experience, employment or further training, depending on the needs of the individual. The Construction Academy also offers employers a comprehensive support package for recruitment, apprenticeship, training and business support that can help to meet their current and future business needs.

Here are two success stories from the recent Construction Academy cohort

Moses Sessay

Moses Sessay came to The Works through The Construction Academy after he was made redundant from another contractor. He wanted to progress in his career after previously gaining experience as a labourer in the UK. After an in-depth information, advice and guidance session with an adviser, Moses concluded that he wanted to embark on a career in electrical installation. To help him get there, he was assisted with his CV and a career plan was set in place so that he knew how he could reach his goal of becoming fully qualified. Feeling more confident, Moses was then introduced to Rullion, who work with NG Bailey- the mechanical electrical contractor on the University’s MECD project.

Moses was then given the opportunity to start as an electrician’s ‘mate on site’, which he accepted. After completing a couple of months under Rullion, he was taken on directly by NG Bailey, as a result of his excellent work and enthusiastic nature. Since gaining permanent employment Moses has been able to enrol onto the Electrical Installation Level 3 NVQ,

Jonathan de’Cadenet, Electrical Site Engineer for NG Bailey and Moses’ Employer, said this about Moses’ performance: “Moses has worked with me for several months now and I find him to be very committed, eager and willing to learn. His attendance and time keeping has been very good throughout his time here with me.”

Kane Johnson

Kane Johnson went to The Works earlier this year, where he started on the “Get into Construction” course to gain his needed CSCS card. As a parent, Kane was motivated not only to get into work but also into an industry he wanted to be a part of in order to provide for his family. After completing his information, advice and guidance session and CSCS course, which included manual handling and working at height awareness, it wasn’t long before an opportunity came his way. AMI, a contractor on the University’s MECD project, identified Kane as a perfect match for a role with them as a general labourer. He started work in a full-time role, only one month after contacting The Works Construction Academy.

So far, Kane has managed to continuously impress his employers with the great work that he’s doing. The job has also provided Kane with the stability and support he wanted to provide for his family, and he’s also getting great experience on a large construction site, which will allow him to progress in his career.

Steve Grant, former Assistant Director of Human Resources at the University of Manchester, said: The University’s Construction Academy is unique to capital programmes in the higher education sector. The University is totally committed to ensuring that the development of our campus delivers local benefit not least in terms of the opportunity it presents to equip people with the skills the construction industry requires. We have been working in partnership with the Work Company, in all of its guises, for seven years and the work we have done collaboratively has done much to help the University to deliver its ambition to widen skills and employment opportunities in communities which need support”.