Gas Training at Kier wins £44,000 project to provide learning opportunities for local engineers

Published by Elizabeth Pokorny for Kier Services in Housing and also in Education, Local Government

A state-of-the-art gas training facility in North Tyneside has been awarded a £44,000 contract to supply learning opportunities to Durham County Council, as well as providing local employment opportunities to local young people.

Gas Training at Kier trains candidates who want to start a career in gas engineering or renew their qualifications. The contract, which will last for two years, will see Kier providing council employees with training for qualifications in commercial gas, commercial catering and Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG). These qualifications are essential for those working with gas in domestic and commercial environments.

Kier regional director, Mike Furze, commented: “At Kier, we are proud of our gas assessment centre, which has already trained more than 100 candidates in Killingworth. We have a good working partnership with Durham County Council and are proud to be able to provide additional services to them by way of training, on top of the work we are doing on the housing stock in East Durham.”

Kier currently works with local partners and arm’s length management organisation, East Durham Homes, to provide planned and emergency repairs and maintenance provision, as well as Decent Homes refurbishments, to 9,500 properties locally, including installation of new kitchens, bathrooms, doors and windows.

In East Durham, Kier has also appointed three new apprentices to support the work being carried out to local homes, as well as helping them to secure valuable work experience on site with Kier operatives. Michael Cain and Ben Cowie, both from Peterlee, and Darren Greenwood from Seaham, are expected to complete their current programmes in carpentry and joinery, and progress onto the next level within Kier in the next few months.

Furze continued: “It is very important for Kier to provide opportunities for local young people.  We have had excellent feedback about these three apprentices and we are proud that they are well thought of and work hard alongside their colleagues. We work closely with East Durham College and we hope to continue to provide opportunities for local communities for years to come.”

For more information on any of the gas courses run by Kier, please contact 0191 643 2233 or email gastraining.info@kier.co.uk