Everything that we do at Westdale is to benefit communities – not just in what we do to refurbish homes, but also what we can give back. We established the Westdale Training Academy, a dedicated space in Coventry, to provide long term, full-time job opportunities and careers. This not only assists us to meet growing capacity, but it also provides individuals with a sense of worth and value.
Each year, Westdale delivers our services to over 2,000+ properties across the UK. The key to our success has been driven by our establishment as a self-delivery business, operating as a large scale social housing refurbishment contractor. Following secured Social Housing Decarbonisation Funding (SDHF), we were able to commit our own funding and resources, to set up the Westdale Training Academy.
Within the construction industry, there is a distinct skills gap. Through our training programme, we can help to mitigate this in a proactive way and support our industry.
The Training Academy provides previously unemployed people with a purpose and self-belief that they can earn a living for themselves and make a difference in their community.
Since establishing the centre, we’ve provided full time employment to 20 students. Our aspiration, through continued SDHF or similar funding, is to have 100+ full-time jobs over the next 3 years.
We partner with Coventry Job Shop to support our mission to give back. Utilising their Bootcamp training courses, prospective students can trial out what we do and see whether this is an opportunity they wish to take further. Following a 2-week Bootcamp training course, we interview interested candidates for selection to join us on a 12-week, paid for, training course where they’ll learn on-the-job skills. Westdale is approved to deliver the Skills Competency course, developed through Exeter College, meaning students will receive a recognised accreditation upon successful completion.
Adrian & his team have been committed to providing opportunities to local unemployed adults in the Coventry area and provided job opportunities which have had a direct impact and improved Coventry resident’s lives.
During the 12-week training course, candidates work alongside our existing team so they can learn more about the work that we do. In addition to learning about our company values and standards, candidates will learn practical skills in installing insulation, base coats, a variety of finishes (including brick effect renders) and ArtBrick, a BBA approved solution. At the end of the 12-weeks, successful candidates are offered full-time employment and our approach to training means we have a very high conversion rate.
John Tesfay, a previous trainee, commented: “From
being unemployed, with a wife and three young girls, I am in a much better situation to now be able to provide for my family. I would strongly recommend Westdale and Coventry College to others. They have put together a training plan which takes people with no experience, teaches them the ropes, and gives them a job at the end.”
If you’d like to find out more about Westdale and our services, please get in touch with us. We’d love to talk to you about how we can enrich your local area or support your community.
