We all recognise the challenge of meeting our collective fuel poverty reduction and net zero obligations, and few housing providers with older stock profiles would argue against fabric-first measures making the greatest impact on both.
The shortage of skilled workers available to meet this challenge is a well-known concern, but most aren’t aware that for many key trades, no suitable training courses exist – up until now!
Westdale Midlands Ltd is addressing this problem in its usual pragmatic fashion by setting up its own Training Academy. Using its multi-year Wave 2 contract with Citizen Housing as a catalyst, Westdale converted its Coventry-based office and warehouse into a bespoke training facility.
The Academy, which benefits from a partnership with Coventry College, offers training and skills development to residents of the communities in which Westdale works, who may otherwise have been unemployed or even homeless. Westdale’s time-served trainers impart skills and knowledge, focusing on real-world necessities, to candidates with a desire to join the industry.
In purpose-built training facilities and classrooms, four cohorts of trainees have now learned and practised essential skills including:
- A range of practical external wall insulation techniques and capabilities
- A background in construction and legislation, underpinning the practical skills
- The importance of customer care, a ‘right first time’ and quality-driven service delivery approach
- Essential health and safety knowledge, including gaining accreditations necessary for site work
In addition to unrivalled training, trainees also benefit from:
- A steady wage during their training period
- On-site placement with existing Westdale teams, reinforcing classroom-based learning
- The promise of a full-time role in the business for those who reach the required standards.
Twenty-three trainees have completed the 12-week course, with five more working their way through the fifth cohort. All students were sourced through the Coventry College boot camp or word of mouth. The majority of trainees have been successful in completing the course and have subsequently been offered full-time employment. We anticipate this growing to between 40 and 50 full-time jobs by the end of the Wave 2 project.
This proactive approach to resolving the current skills shortage, while delivering real legacy benefits to the communities of Coventry, has garnered interest from regional and government bodies. Government visits to the Training Academy have been plentiful, and each has provided a reminder of the unique approach to problem solving that is Westdale’s trademark.