Esh and Learning Curve Group partner on construction training programme

A new programme has been launched to provide more than 400 people with a pathway into the construction industry.

Esh Group and Learning Curve Group have joined force to delivers ‘Constructing Careers’, a scheme which aims to equip participants with the necessary training and skills to pursue a career in the industry.

The news follows Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s Budget in which he confirmed an additional £126 million funding for traineeships and further investment in the National Careers Service.

Mr Sunak also announced funding to triple the number of sector-based work academy programme placements (SWAPs), which enable people to switch sector.

SWAPs are short programmes consisting of pre-employment training, work-experience placements, and guaranteed job interviews linked to vacancies in sectors with high demand.

In a bid to provide a route into the construction industry for those who find themselves out of work due to the pandemic, Esh and Learning Curve have announced that ‘Constructing Careers’ will be open for enrolment from Monday, 22nd March, with the firms planning for an initial intake of 400 participants.

The week-long programme will provide accredited training through a classroom based or online training environment, CSCS card certification which is essential to accessing site-based construction jobs, and enrolment to Esh’s recruitment agency, Core People.

The innovative partnership sees the coming together of Learning Curve Group, one of the UK’s largest training and education specialists, and Esh Group, a construction sector leader in social and economic value.

Andy Radcliffe, Esh Group’s chief executive said: “The impact of this pandemic on jobs in a number of sectors has been terrible, we know people are finding the job market very difficult, with young people most likely to have been furloughed or made redundant over the last 12 months.

“We are aware that more than 800,000 under-24-year-olds are receiving Universal Credit. Further to this, many people are looking for increased job security, achieve a better work-life balance and are driven by a desire to learn new skills and challenge themselves.

“Through our partnership with Learning Curve we want to help those who want a new challenge and the opportunity to pursue a career in construction.

“The construction sector is key to the UK’s economic recovery and has been relatively resilient during the pandemic.”

Brenda McLeish, Learning Curve Group’s chief executive, added: “The Constructing Careers programme we’ve built alongside Esh Group is absolutely fantastic.

“When I joined LCG in 2008, I headed up our Skill Centres which included our specialist construction academies in the North East, and it is an area that remains close to my heart.”