Three brothers from Hart have taken full advantage of St Edward's Hartland Village development by joining the site workforce as ground workers.
Michael, Ben and Jamie, who were all previously unemployed, are among the first to benefit from an employment partnership, which is linking local people with training and job opportunities on this 13 year brownfield regeneration programme.
The three brothers attended a two week construction training course in June, where their talent was spotted by Dara Keegan, Contracts Manager for Landmark, one of the contractors working at Hartland Village.
He was so impressed with their attitude and work ethic, Dara offered all three brothers employment on the spot.
"It's a great team, we're friends with everyone, and they are always happy to take the time to teach us more" said Michael Walker.
Hartland Village is less than a year into its 13 year lifespan which will see 1,500 new homes built, with a Village Centre, 70 acre Country Park and a bounty of biodiverse green spaces where local people can enjoy being close to nature.
By working closely with Hart District Council and Hampshire Country Council's Employment and Skills Hub, St Edward and its supply chain is supporting local unemployed residents to gain work experience, apprenticeships, and employment on site.
Paul Vallone, Executive Chairman, St Edward, said: "We're working closely with Hart and Hampshire Councils to develop bespoke training that addresses local skills gaps and ensures more people living close to Hartland Village are ready to join our workforce. Michael, Ben and Jamie are among the first to take advantage and we're committed to supporting more local people into long term, sustainable jobs."
The team at Hartland Village will be creating over 5,000 jobs in construction, including at least 100 apprenticeships and 108 permanent local jobs by the end of the project in 2032.
The site has a dedicated Community Liaison Advisor who manages the Employment Skills Programme and links up with local partners to make sure residents and the wider community are able to make the most of everything Hartland Village has to offer.