Pictured above: Along with the students are (fourth from
left on back row then going left to right) Gary Lee, Dearne Valley
College Construction Programme Area Manager, Jonathan Wildgoose,
Chairman of Wildgoose Construction Ltd, Paul Townsley, Dearne
Valley College Principal and Chief Executive and Paul
Metcalfe-Smith, Health and Safety Manager, Wildgoose Construction
Ltd
Derbyshire firm Wildgoose Construction has formed an innovative
partnership with a college in a bid to give students a head-start
in the building industry.
The Ashover-based business has linked up with Dearne Valley
College, in Wath, Rotherham, to give students work placements on
its sites.
As part of the partnership, Jonathan Wildgoose, chairman of
Wildgoose Construction, went along to the college to present
students with health and safety certificates.
The Construction Industry Training Board certificate is an
introduction to site safety made up of 15 sections on risks and
hazards associated with construction sites.
Covered over the course of a day with a multi-choice test at the
end, students gain a basic understanding and awareness of health
and safety duties and responsibilities of potential risks and
hazards on a construction site.
As well as their certificates, students were also presented with
high visibility jackets and hard hats.
Mr Wildgoose said he thought the partnership would really help
the students.
He said: "Wildgoose welcomes the opportunity to support young
people entering the building industry and especially to work with
the staff and students at Wath, which has excellent courses for the
building trades.
"As an Investor in People company, the Wildgoose name has always
been associated with training and apprenticeship schemes and we are
delighted to be able to assist these students on the first step of
a career in the construction industry."
Gary Lee, Dearne Valley College construction programme area
manager, said he thought the partnership was a great idea.
He said: "We are delighted that Jonathan has taken the time out
to attend college and present the students with their certificates.
Through the partnership we are working towards enhancing the work
placements to be developed into apprenticeship programmes".