Jewson Partnership Solutions brand, part of the Saint-Gobain group, has announced a new collaboration with YouthBuild designed to get more young people into construction.
The partnership will see the creation of a property-maintenance social enterprise that will work with housing associations to maintain the properties in their portfolios. The initiative is an extension of the partnership between Saint-Gobain UK, Barnardo’s and Youthbuild, that has led to the creation of the Future Place Academy in Lewisham, and has for a number of years been supporting young people to develop new skills and transition into employment.
An investment from Jewson Partnership Solutions and Saint-Gobain UK will be used to fund leadership positions as well as provide funding for business expenses like uniforms and insurance. During the contract, employees will also have access to a mentor from the Jewson Partnership Solutions team, who will help them learn key skills while on the job.
YouthBuild, a US-based organisation of 40 years standing, aims to help young people enter the construction industry by working with businesses to secure work opportunities. The organisation specifically helps those who are excluded from the job market, education or training.
This new partnership will provide graduates from the YouthBuild programme, who are yet to gain full-time employment, with the opportunity to earn a living while learning, and will give them the support they need to transition into work.
Scott Cooper, Business Director at Jewson Partnership Solutions, said: “We are excited to continue to develop our partnership with YouthBuild, whose work with young people has improved the lives of many individuals and uplifted many communities not only in the UK but across the world.
“The ongoing impact of Covid-19 will put increasing pressure on social landlords with waiting lists for properties set to increase and a backlog of repair work following multiple lockdowns meaning that many maintenance teams are already at capacity.
“This partnership will serve as a relief valve for registered providers, whilst also helping to address the wider challenges of rising UK unemployment, the skills shortage and skills gap in the construction industry.”
Cooper will also sit on the interviewing panel during the recruitment of the Project Manager, ensuring that the candidate is the perfect fit for the role.
Shenaaz Chenia, CEO at YouthBuild Ventures UK, said: “Youthbuild and Saint-Gobain have had a long-standing global partnership, so it’s very exciting to build on this in the UK to give disadvantaged young people an edge as they begin their careers in construction, and this is particularly important as they find themselves the worst hit by the crisis.
“When two organisations find a common purpose, so much can be achieved and in our new partnership with Jewson Partnership Solutions, we hope to deliver better homes for communities, promote social mobility and transform the lives of young people.”
