THE HUBB Foundation and a Stoke-on-Trent construction training provider have joined forces to give some of the city’s most disadvantaged teenagers a hands-on taste of building-related trades.
A total of 20 young people from across the city have spent the final days of their Easter break learning in-demand construction skills as part of The Hubb Foundation’s free Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme.
The free construction taster courses, run by Joiners Square-based The Spark Group, taught the 13 to 16-year-olds from deprived backgrounds and young people with Special Educational Needs the basics of electrical skills, painting and decorating, woodworking and plumbing.
Founder of The Spark Group, Daniel Canavan said: “More that 20 per cent of the city’s construction workforce is over the age of 55 and trades say they are constantly struggling to find workers. This means there is real skills crisis on the horizon and massive demand for young people to bridge the gap across all construction trades. We want to show youngsters who may not know about these opportunities there is a great future for them in this industry.
“All four courses are fully booked, which shows there is real ambition among our young people and we really believe these courses could be just the spark they need to put them on a great career path that benefits the city and gives them brilliant opportunities.
“The construction sector pays well too – in Staffordshire trades typically earn £34,500 a year compared to the county’s average of £28,000 – and it doesn’t matter how young people fare at school because they can start from a Level 1, 2 or 3 qualifications.
“The Spark Group was set up to ignite potential and empower young people—especially those facing barriers to employment—through skills, education, and opportunity, so joining forces with The Hubb Foundation through the HAF programme is a natural fit.”
Chair of The Hubb Foundation Jane Sawyers said: “This Easter we are providing 10,000 free holiday activity places for the most disadvantaged and vulnerable youngsters across the city from Reception class through to Year 11 and while many are fun activities, there are an increasing number of vocational courses.
“We support young people in care, those with Special Educational Needs and young people who have few role models in their life, so this construction skills course shows them the great career pathways on their doorstep. A total of 16 per cent of all businesses in Staffordshire are construction-related, so this sector gives our young people genuine options and could give them a great head start in life.”
To find out more about The Hubb Foundation’s HAF programme, which is funded by Stoke-on-Trent City Council, visit our What’s On page and for details of construction-related courses visit https://thespark.group/
Featured post image: Spark Group trainer Brian Pepper demonstrates electrical skills to youngsters at the Easter HAF session, watched by Spark Group founder Daniel Canavan and Hubb Foundation Chair Jane Sawyers
