Lafarge and The Princes Trust join to Help Young Job-Seekers get back to work

In 2009, Leicestershire-based construction materials company Lafarge Aggregates & Concrete UK decided that, together with The Prince’s Trust, it could make a real difference to the lives of young people. The company signed a three-year partnership agreement with the Trust – the first construction materials supplier to do so – committing to supporting the work of the Trust with donations of time, facilities and other resources.

“The Prince’s Trust is an excellent organisation that gives disadvantaged young people real opportunities to develop key skills and confidence, helping them move into employment, education or training,” explains Aggregates Managing Director Robert Whetstone, who signed the Memorandum of Understanding on behalf of Lafarge, and is a member of the Trust’s joint initiative programme The Construction & Business Services Leadership Group.

He continues: “Looking after our partners and communities is an integral part of our sustainable ambitions. By supporting organisations such as The Prince’s Trust, together we can help create opportunities for young people.”

Creating opportunities is exactly what a team of Lafarge employees has spent the last nine months doing. Led by Organisational Development Manager Sam Hardwick, the team has put together a two-week hands-on work experience programme, which was piloted in Leicestershire.

Linda Norville, Head of Programmes for The Prince’s Trust in the East Midlands. She said: “Get into’ are short courses designed to give young people intensive training and experience in a specific sector. Because they’re a stepping stone to employment, we only choose sectors where there are many jobs available, like construction.”

The Prince’s Trust highlights that a wealth of research indicates that lower educational attainment and lack of formal qualifications make it much more difficult to secure full-time employment. The organisation exists to help those with few or no qualifications – like the young men on Lafarge’s course – to build skills, confidence and find employment, and to provide them with personal development opportunities.

And it works. “Our results show that more than three in four young people on Prince’s Trust schemes go into work, training or education, despite many lacking previous qualifications,” says Linda.

Lafarge’s programme – Get into Construction Materials (GiCM) – allows participants to experience all areas of the business, from production and distribution to technical and restoration.

The course began with an introduction to Lafarge and a “speed-dating” session where the seven participants had the opportunity to meet and question seven Lafarge colleagues from across the business. This was followed by a full company health and safety induction led by Lafarge Health, Safety, Quality and Environment manager Dawn Edwards. 

On day two seven young people – all from the East Midlands – received Emergency First Aid training.

They then spent the remaining 11 days working closely with Lafarge employees at various Leicestershire sites including Mountsorrel Quarry in Quorn – Europe’s largest granite quarry; Shawell sand and gravel quarry near Lutterworth; and Granite House, the company’s head office in Syston. The course also included time at ready-mixed concrete and asphalt plants and a day out with a company lorry driver.

“We’ve designed the course to maximise participation and interactivity,” explains Sam Hardwick. “The industry is complex and multifaceted, but GiCM exposes them to where building materials come from, how they are produced, how they are used and what happens to quarries when extraction is finished.”

David Taylor, 25, was also on the course. David, who has dyspraxia – a speech and co-ordination condition, gained six GSCEs and a BTEC in automotive engineering from Leicester College. He worked for five years valeting cars at a local Ford dealer before being made redundant in April.

David reflects: “I wanted to come on this course to learn something new and improve my skills to get a better job. I want to know how to deal better with companies. Plus, quarrying is interesting and I liked the idea of working with big machinery.”

The benefits are not limited to The Prince’s Trust course participants. Lafarge has provided four employee volunteers, who have been earmarked as ones for the future, as mentors. Each mentor has worked with up to two participants.

Distribution service agent Zoe Atkins, 25, has been with Lafarge for four years. She mentored Ali Adam Ishaq, who came to the UK from the Sudan five years ago. Zoe said: “Being a mentor has been a great experience – it’s something I’ve never done and at first I was a bit nervous. But doing it has really boosted my confidence and will help me in my job”

GiCM spanned 13 days and saw the seven participants leave with three qualifications: emergency First Aid, fire safety and a CSCS card.

It was these qualifications which ensured course attendee Matt Leboutillier secured a job with Walkers Crisps.

Matt, 20, from Newparks, Leicester, said:

 “I really enjoyed the course and the first aid and fire marshal training helped me get the job with Walkers.

“So thanks to the course I’m looking forward to getting back into work.”

 Another attendee has also been successful in finding work. Daniel Theobold is training as a kitchen tiler.

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