Member Article

Local housebuilder launches new learning programme for young people in partnership with award-winning educational facility

Local Housebuilder, Barratt Developments North East, is continuing to support the futures of the younger generation with its ongoing partnership with award-winning sports and education facility, the Beacon of Light, in Sunderland.

In conjunction with the partnership, the housebuilder has launched a series of learning programmes for young people aged 14 and over across the North East, which was kicked off by the partnership’s first careers session at the community hub on Stadium Park in November.

The first of the many sessions to be held over the course of the current academic year was hosted at the Beacon of Light and saw two Barratt staff members speak about Barratt Homes career pathways and what the business looks for in an employee to a group of young people aged between 16 and 20.

Carl Sobolewski, Managing Director of Barratt Homes North East, said: “We’re thrilled to have had a number of young people attend our first careers event at the Beacon of Light. We’re extremely keen to support the future of our younger generation and making them aware of our career opportunities at Barratt Homes is just one way we can do this. “As well as helping young people with their career aspirations, our partnership with the Beacon of Light will also provide guidance for interviews as well as offering young people the opportunity to apply to our apprenticeship programme.” The learning programme, which extends through to July 2022, comes after Barratt previously hosted a series of educational sessions as part of the Barratt Homes Construction Academy at the Beacon of Light before they came to a halt due to the global pandemic.

The Barratt Homes Construction Academy is located within the Beacon of Light’s Arriva World of Work Zone which supports employers, young people and the unemployed to remove barriers to employment and gain the skills they need to succeed in the workplace.

The Zone offers Level 1 and 2 qualifications in eight industries including construction, engineering, and manufacturing, and since opening in 2018 it has supported over 1,200 people to improve career opportunities.

Scott Taylor, Assistant Head of Skills at the Foundation of Light, said: “It was great to have Barratt staff members visit the Beacon of Light and provide insight into the industry for our younger generation.

“The young people who attended the session are enrolled on our Back on Track course so having Barratt Homes staff members provide career advice was great to see and really does help our younger generation with their career prospects.”

Barratt Homes will also be visiting local schools in the area to inform young people of their learning programme which will see educational sessions take place at the Beacon of Light and at Barratt Homes offices.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Richard Savage .