Local Jobs and a Bright Future

The regeneration of Woodberry Down in Hackney is not just delivering new homes for local people. There are now 42 apprenticeships on site. These are training the next generation of skilled construction workers and helping young people secure long-term careers in the industry.

So far, 177 new full-time jobs have been created to service the neighbourhood at Woodberry Down and there are 470 jobs on the construction site. More than 20% of these go to local people.

"Our work with young people locally shows we are serious about creating a sustainable community", said Dan Massie, Berkeley's Development Manager. "That means providing jobs as well as housing.  One of our key aims is to offer secure careers in the construction industry with good pay and strong future prospects."

The 42 apprenticeships at Woodberry Down have been created by Berkeley alongside a wider Berkeley Foundation Job Creation Programme, which saw 250 unemployed people secure training and work during 2013/14. The first person to come through the programme, Suleman Mirza, is working at Woodberry Down.

The Berkeley Group has made a commitment to achieve a 50% increase in site-based apprenticeships and training over the next 2 years.  They will be part of a total workforce sustained by the company across the UK which currently stands at 21,000 people.