UNEMPLOYED people are being offered free training and a guaranteed job interview in the construction industry.

The initiative is a new partnership between the housing association BCHA and the e-learning specialist First4Training.

A one-day course is open to people over 16 and offers a foundation level qualification encompassing asbestos awareness, manual handling, workplace health and safety, and working at heights.

Participants will also be offered a job interview with a local employer from a list including Woodmace and First4Building.

Charitable housing association BCHA provides learning and training opportunities for hundreds of people each year, supporting people into employment, volunteering and further education.

The initiative is part of BCHA’s Way Forward programme, set up in March 2021 to offer support, coaching and skills to people hit financially by the pandemic.

BCHA project manager Val Jefferies said: “The pandemic has caused huge financial hardship for many people, particularly those who have lost their jobs prior to, or as a result of it.

“But we have found that many people coming to the Way Forward for help in getting back into work have transferable skills which can enable them to make fast and effective in-roads into other careers, including construction.

“We are extremely pleased to be working with First4Training to offer an excellent grounding in basic construction and to be playing a part in helping the local economy, particularly the construction industry which is currently facing serious recruitment problems.”

First4Training offers more than 200 e-learning courses and practical training at its new centre in Willis Way, Poole.

Director Jack Warren said: “The Way Forward project caught our eye last year, as upskilling unemployed people is something we are also passionate about.

“Together with BCHA we will provide a holistic approach to financial fitness by educating, training and providing the support that people need to retrain and re-enter the workplace.”

The one-day construction course can be taken online at BCHA’s site the Factory in Alder Hills, Poole, or at First4Training.

The project comes as BCP Council works on its Big Plan for the region, which would be funded by its £50million Futures Fund and £3billion of outside investment. It aims to deliver 15,000 homes and 13,000 jobs.

Val Jefferies said: “There are many exciting plans in the pipeline for BCP and we intend to help produce a ready workforce which will help make those plans a reality, starting right now.

“We would like to hear from construction businesses and building maintenance companies in the area looking to interview site-ready ground workers, labourers, and builders’ mates.

“We can provide motivated, trained, candidates free of charge, with zero recruitment costs.”

For information, contact Jack Warren at First4Training, 01202 113584 or jack@first4building.co.uk