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Compendium Group - Construction trainees build new futures at Weston Heights

18 January 2008

Local construction trainees are building new futures for themselves through the large-scale regeneration programme which developer The Compendium Group is carrying out at the new Weston Heights development, Weston Coyney, Stoke-on-Trent.

As part of the regeneration scheme, Compendium has taken on an apprentice carpenter, two trainee painter and decorators, a management trainee and a trainee site manager. They all come from the Stoke-on-Trent or Staffordshire area.

The trainees are all working on the major redevelopment scheme at the former Coal Board estate. Development company Compendium – which has been formed by housing regeneration specialists Lovell and the Riverside Group – is building 283 new homes and refurbishing other existing houses at the former mining estate through a £55 million regeneration programme. The Weston Heights scheme is creating homes for sale, shared ownership and rent, both for new and existing residents.

“Creating new jobs and training opportunities is a vital part of the Weston Heights regeneration,” says Compendium Group director Dave Bullock. “We’ve worked closely with Lovell and Riverside Group to deliver these construction training opportunities but this is just the start of an ongoing programme which will see Compendium continuing to provide similar chances for local people to gain construction qualifications throughout the project. Compendium is also investing in the local economy by using local construction subcontractors and suppliers and working with building materials from the area.” More than 90 per cent of the subcontractors working on the scheme are from Staffordshire and the majority of building materials used are also sourced locally.

Economist Kate Barker – whose report on housing supply has greatly influenced Government policy – made presentations to the trainees on Tuesday, 27 November, during her visit to the landmark Weston Heights regeneration project which is the first to be commissioned by Housing Market Renewal Pathfinder RENEW North Staffordshire.
The new recruits include 18-year-old apprentice carpenter Martyn Griffiths, from Stone, who is working towards an NVQ Level 2 qualification in Carpentry and Joinery through the Lovell Craft Academy training programme. During his two-year apprenticeship, Martyn is training on site at Weston Heights as well as attending Stephenson College in Leicestershire on a block release basis.

Also working at Weston Heights is trainee site manager Simon Wilson, 25, from Fradswell. Simon is working towards a BTEC National Certificate in Construction and the Built Environment at Stoke-on-Trent College. Weston Heights-based management trainee Greg Barlow, 22, from Silverdale, Newcastle-under-Lyme, is about to start studying for an MSc in Construction Project Management and is part of the Lovell Management Development Academy management training programme.

In addition, Compendium is providing year-long training placements for two ex-offenders. Adrian Bryan from Biddulph and Jason Prime from Longton are employed through Reconstruction Staffordshire and are working towards NVQ Level 2 qualifications in Painting and Decorating by working at the estate and studying at Stoke-on-Trent College.