Jobs boost created on flagship Gorton scheme

Published by Claire Tinston for IPB Communications in Communities and also in Housing

Twenty-one apprentices from West Gorton and the surrounding area are celebrating after being told ‘you’re hired!’ to work on the town’s flagship £23 million new build housing development.

The housing project is being delivered by leading community regeneration specialist Bramall Construction and GB Building Solutions who are working collaboratively under the banner the ‘West Gorton Partnership’ to construct 171 new homes by March 2012.

The team of apprentices will construct a mix of apartments, houses and bungalows across four sites at the former Bennett Street estate in West Gorton.

These properties are being delivered on behalf of Manchester City Council and managed by registered social landlord Guinness Northern Counties to provide the first family council homes to be built in Manchester for over 20 years.

Of the 21 local apprentices hired to work on the scheme, seven were appointed at an open day and a further 14 jobs were created when apprentices displaced from other building sites were taken on by the West Gorton Partnership. 

Three of the seven new apprentices were assigned to work on the scheme after a two day selection process involving practical tests and interviews.

Eighteen- year-old Reece Gill left St PetersHigh School at 16 and completed a one year bricklaying course at college before securing his apprenticeship with West Gorton Partnership in July this year.

Reece, who lives in Hoyland Close, is currently undertaking his second year diploma at SalfordCollege and is looking forward to fully qualifying as a bricklayer by the end of 2012

When he’s not rolling up his sleeves up on the building site, Reece relaxes in his free time fishing and playing football for his local pub team Frankies 11, on behalf of the Belle Vue Social Club on Belle Vue Street.

In addition, 19-year-old Katie Gallagher has been hired to provide administrative support to the West Gorton Partnership.

Katie was originally hired to work as an apprentice at Aspire  and had already achieved her NVQ level 2 in Business Administration before taking on her new role.

As part of her duties she is managing over 4000 architectural drawings and plans for the West Gorton Partnership team.

She said:  “I particularly enjoy the variety of work, especially when dealing with people and residents. Every day is just so different it never gets boring.”

One of the West Gorton Partnership’s apprentice plasterers is 25-year-old Stan Paten.

Having taken a number of part time jobs since leaving school at 16, including building work, Stan decided to apply for an apprenticeship with the West Gorton Partnership with a view to becoming self employed in the future. Stan is currently training to qualify for his NVQ Level 2 which he is hoping to complete by April 2012.

Commenting on what the apprenticeship means to him, Stan, who lives in Birch Street, said: “Being a father with a young family to support made me very aware that I need to get myself sorted out job wise. GB Building and the regeneration scheme has given me a real opportunity for formal training within the apprentice programme, despite me being older. I’m really looking forward to making a success of this job.”

The project supports the local economy as the majority of West Gorton Partnership’s workforce live within a 12 mile radius of the new build development and invest in goods and services.