Regeneration Project helps local people into employment

6 Jun 2012

Local people from Hackney are being given training and employment opportunities through the Hackney Alliance project managed by Hackney Homes on behalf of Hackney Council in partnership with Lakehouse.

The project is funded by the Homes and Communities Agency and the London Borough of Hackney. Since the project achieved National Skills Academy for Construction status in May 2011, many local apprentices and young people have already received construction training on-site.

Hackney resident, Rio Alfonso, 24 was unemployed for 8 months before being recruited through the ‘Works4Hackney’ process, which is an embedded mechanism within the project to target work opportunities to local unemployed people. Rio had previous experience as a general labourer but was having difficulties securing further work. He registered with Onsite, a Hackney Recruitment Centre who helped him update his CV and put him forward for the vacancy when it was advertised.

Rio was successful in his application and has been working as a trainee operative with Lakehouse since November 2011. He has undertaken a variety of training including Asbestos Awareness, First Aid, Manual Handling and Fire Marshall. Through the National Skills Academy for Construction Rio will be completing an NVQ Level 3 in Customer Service. Rio says: “Getting this job has built up my confidence and I have been given more responsibilities. I am assisting site managers, meeting subcontractors and residents. I have been doing a lot of training which will also help me progress.”

Over the next four years the redevelopment programme will improve the homes of thousands of Hackney residents and the project’s National Skills Academy for Construction status means that a site-based approach to construction training has been put in place.