Member Article

Hartlepool lads given a second chance to build a new career

A trio of Hartlepool lads are being given a second chance to make a career for themselves in the construction industry, thanks to a new initiative and investment by a company in their hometown. Mark Arnold, 21, Karl Gaffney, 22, and Jon McPartlin, 23, are among a group of students who are turning their lives around after signing up to the Second Chance Apprenticeships project which is being piloted in the Tees Valley by a consortium of five further education colleges.

The initiative, led by Hartlepool College, is aimed at helping unemployed 19-24 year olds who have either previously failed to complete an apprenticeship, or have qualifications or experience that would match. The three students are being given the opportunity to put the lesson learned in the classroom into practice at Yuill Homes’ latest development in the town, Trinity Square.

Yuill Homes company secretary, Andrew Pegg, said: “We make every effort to ensure we provide training and education opportunities to local the labour force and suppliers wherever possible and Trinity Square is no exception. “We already have three apprentices from the neighbourhood working on the development and we were delighted to be able to support the Second Chance Apprenticeships programme to provide further opportunities to other deserving young people.”

Martin Buckley, placement officer at Hartlepool College, said: “Everyone deserves a second chance, especially young people. This initiative is a great example of how a local college can provide individuals with a second chance to return to learning and to develop economically valuable skills for the local community.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .