To coincide with National Apprenticeship Week, Leeds College of Building is pleased to announce we have teamed up with The Guinness Partnership, who are managing the new housing development opposite the College’s South Bank Campus (construction is due to start later this year).
The new development near Leeds Docks and the Royal Armouries Museum; will provide 928 homes and be the basis for a dynamic community for local people and residents. This will be the largest development in Guinness’s 130-year history.
Guinness is committed to working with the College to develop opportunities for students, including career talks, employability skills, site visits, work placements and apprenticeships.
Two key areas that the housing provider is looking to focus on are addressing the national skills shortage and diversity in the workplace; key elements of the College’s strategic objectives.
This year is the 13th annual National Apprenticeship Week, coordinated by the National Apprenticeship Service, which is an annual week-long celebration of apprenticeships across England and is a time to recognise and applaud apprenticeship success stories across the country.
The College currently has 2,500 apprentices on programme, with 2,250 of these training in Leeds, and a large number of apprentices progressing from the College’s 16-18 study programme provision. Strong links with organisations, such as Guinness, who can support our students with their career choices, is vital.
Derek Whitehead CEO & Principal at Leeds College of Building said:
“Whilst classroom and workshop studies are essential, there is no doubt how important site visits, work placements and job opportunities are. Projects such as these give our students incredible insight into new developments within the industry, and they benefit immensely from seeing what life is like on a live site”.
Catriona Simons, Chief Executive of Guinness, said:
“We are delighted to be partnering with Leeds College of Building to promote high quality training through apprenticeships in the community we serve in Leeds. Apprenticeships are a key way of promoting skills development and increasing diversity across the construction and housing maintenance sectors. This partnership will enable students to gain real experience and insight into the careers available, while contributing to the delivery of affordable homes in the Leeds area.”
