Home improvements offer a happy New Year for East Manchester jobseekers » Housing » 24dash.com

Connaught has made it a happy start to the New Year for eight previously long-term unemployed people in a move that will bring social and economic value worth over £124,000 to East Manchester.

The eight new recruits, who have secured employment with Connaught Partnerships Ltd to help deliver kitchen and bathroom improvements to 512 Eastlands Homes properties across Ardwick and Beswick, will provide a projected social economic value and economic savings totalling £124,440.

Calculated by the New Economics Foundation (NEF), the impact of recruiting local long term unemployed people is demonstrated by taking into account economic factors such as increased financial independence and improved future employability prospects, as well as social benefits including increased health and confidence. All recruited from the East Manchester Construction Training Centre, the new Connaught employees will work in a variety of roles including joinery, labouring and finishing.

Mark Campbell (32), a labourer from Openshaw, said: “Everyone is aware how difficult it is to find employment in the current economic climate so I was over the moon to be given this opportunity with Connaught and Eastlands Homes. As well as the obvious relief of the financial benefits it is great to be working on the home improvements and to see the difference it is making to residents lives is really satisfying.”

In addition to the new recruits from the East Manchester Construction Training Centre, Connaught has also recently recruited a female apprentice plumber and is providing an eight month painting and decorating work placement experience to 15 year old schoolboy Lee Barnes, generating a further £1,895 in social and economic value and economic savings.

David Williams, Deputy Chief Executive & Director of Property Services for Eastlands Homes, said: “This is the type of initiative that fits with Eastlands aims to provide more than just physical improvements to homes in our communities. Providing local people with opportunities to gain real skills is very important to the sustainability of the area in the future.”

Mark Foster, Connaught Area Partnership Director, said: “The partnership with Eastlands Homes offers a real opportunity to provide employment for local people and we are delighted to welcome the new recruits into the team.

“It is particularly pleasing to start the New Year with such positive news and the social and economic benefits of the home improvement programme continue to make a positive impact across East Manchester.”

The East Manchester Construction Training Centre offers a range of hands-on training programmes held in a realistic working environment to help equip learners with the necessary skills to secure employment in the construction industry. Based on Vaughan Street Industrial Estate in West Gorton, the centre is a partnership between the urban regeneration company New East Manchester, The Manchester College and Manchester Solutions Ltd, and is funded by the North West Development Agency and New Deal for Communities.