Pro Installer December 2015 - Issue 33 | Page 44

44 DECEMBER 2015 PRO INSTALLER PRO BUSINESS www.proinstaller.co.uk Pantone 361 WEST YORKSHIRE COMBINED AUTHORITY Ambition and Construction Youth Trust announce partnership Ambition, the leading national youth charity, has been appointed Construction Youth Trust’s strategic partner, to make it easier for young people to gain training and employment opportunities. The partnership builds upon a shared commitment to raising career aspirations and improving job prospects for young people through training, education and employment opportunities. Almost 700,000 young people aged 16-24 are currently unemployed in England. Construction Youth Trust works with key employers from the construction industry including Network Rail, Grosvenor, Mace, and Willmott Dixon. The partnership will enable contractors to develop stronger links with young people through Ambition’s national network of youth clubs, community projects, local authorities and housing associations, reaching 3,500 local communities. Over the next three years both organisations will work closely to develop joint programmes and funding bids, whilst sharing best practice and knowledge for working with young people. It is hoped the partnership will increase the number of employment and training opportunities available within the construction industry, and encourage more young women to enter the profession; there are fewer than 11% women working in the construction and engineering professions, with under 1% in the traditional trades. The ultimate aim is to improve future outcomes and prospects for young people across the UK. Christine Townley, Chief Executive, Construction Youth Trust, commented: “We’re really pleased to be collaborating with Ambition to increase awareness amongst young people of careers within the construction industry. The partnership will enable us to share our expertise with one another, and ensure young people throughout the country are given the chance to overcome adversity and build a better future for them.” Helen Marshall, Chief Executive, Ambition, commented: “Ambition believes the construction industry offers a widerange of fantastic career options for young people. We are delighted to be the national youth partner to Construction Youth Trust, which will help us to improve and build our employability programmes, as well as enable our members to develop stronger links with the construction industry in their local communities.” The strategic partnership between Ambition and Construction Youth Trust will last for three years, with a view to renewing the agreement for a further period. ‘build a better future for them’ Contractors wanted for £1bn Yorkshire transport work Around 200 construction businesses are signed up to a major meet the buy event to hear The West Yorkshire Combined Authority set out plans for a £1bn pipeline of transport schemes over the next decade. The Growth Deal Transport Programme includes 26 schemes that will create thousands of jobs during the development and construction phases. There will be opportunities for firms to find out more about the procurement process, and provide feedback and find out how to register as a potential supplier. Keith Wakefield, chair of the WYCA Transport Committee, said: “The Programme got underway with the start of work on the Wakefield Eastern Relief Road in July and a range of schemes are scheduled to start in the next couple of years. ‘will create thousands of jobs’ “Over the Programme’s 10 years, we will be commissioning over £1bn of work so this represents a huge opportunity for local companies. “We want organisations representing every stage of the supply chain, from legal firms to construction contractors to come to this event. “They will be able to find out what we and our partners in the districts have planned and next steps in the procurement procedure.” http://www.westyorks-ca.gov.uk/business/ Source: www.constructionyouth.org.uk