A group of unemployed young people have experienced a full working day on one of Wandsworth's largest construction sites.
On Wednesday 11 February 2015, St George opened its Battersea Reach development in Wandsworth to nine trainees from the Kotuku Environment Labour Project (KELP). The young men, aged between 18 and 30, are training for jobs in the construction industry and for many, this was their first experience of a live construction site.
Ben Kellythorne, Construction Director for Battersea Reach said: "St George is passionate about attracting young people into this diverse and interesting industry. We regularly support apprentices and host site visits from local schools and employment initiatives.
"We were delighted to show the trainees from KELP around Battersea Reach, which is a large, complex and exciting development site. These young men have been given invaluable insight into the construction of this impressive project, which will be useful for their training programme and future careers.
"We employ approximately 500 people on the construction of Battersea Reach and I hope that many of the young men will find future careers with us."
As part of the full-day event, the future construction workers were given a tour of the newest section of the Battersea Reach development, the 15-storey Pinnacle tower. This first-hand experience of an active construction site can be instrumental in helping guide these young people into their future occupations.
As a result of previous career days with KELP, 17 formerly unemployed people have found work at Battersea Reach. Approximately 500 people work on the construction site each month, with many more local jobs supported through the supply train.
Battersea Reach is a residential-led riverside development in Wandsworth. When complete, the development will comprise over 1,300 homes and almost 200,000 sq ft of shops, offices and restaurants. Formerly the home of a gin distillery and an oil depot and warehouse, this waterfront location has been dramatically transformed by St George into a thriving mixed-use community with 7 acres of public space.
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For further information, please contact FTI Consulting:
Ollie Pratt T: 0203 727 1428 E: Ollie.Pratt@fticonsulting.com
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Notes to Editor
About KELP
The Kotuku Environmental Labour Project (KELP) is a training initiative which provides unemployed young people with skills and training for the construction and waste industries and helps match them with work opportunities.
The initiative was founded in 2012 by Andrew Pears, Managing Director of environmental consultancy Kotuku.
Young people are nominated by Job Centre Plus. After an interview about their suitability for manual work, trainees undertake a two week environmental training programme where they acclimatise to the pattern of a full working day; receive comprehensive health and safety training; learn about sustainability and waste management; receive career advice; guidance on writing CVs and interview skills; and achieve their CSCS (Construction Skills Certificate Scheme) operatives' card.
Since 2012, KELP has run 14 courses and 104 candidates completed the two week training course. 93 candidates have been placed in full time employment, many with developer St George and recycling company Powerday.
KELP was shortlisted for 'Training Initiative of the Year' in the 2014 Construction News awards.
About St George
St George is proud to be a member of the Berkeley Group and is London's leading mixed use developer, regenerating brownfield land to create thriving new communities in attractive landscaped environments.
Since 2000 St George has delivered over 8,730 new homes; over 2,400 of which are affordable; 836,000 sq ft of commercial floor space and 83,000 sq ft of community space, as well as 30 acres of open space.
In 2002, St George was the first residential developer to be granted the Queen's Award for Enterprise in Sustainable Development. The Berkeley Group as a whole received this prestigious accolade in 2008 and again in 2014.
Each home St George delivers creates or sustains 5.6 jobs.
About Battersea Reach
Battersea Reach was granted planning permission in 2008. It has transformed a 5.4 hectare vacant site in Wandsworth into a residential-led mixed use development. Once complete, the development will have 1,352 homes (330 of which are affordable), 194,000 sq ft of commercial space and seven acres of public open space - including a 300m riverside walk.
Commercial occupiers at the development include Cake Boy, Tesco and Bo Concept. A survey carried out in July 2014 found that 240 people work in the commercial space at Battersea Reach, a quarter of whom are Wandsworth residents.