College helps Olympic workers
Hundreds of Olympic site workers are keeping their jobs in a partnership between Newham College and a training firm.
The College and construction industry training providers, VASCOM Ltd., have set up a ‘cutting-edge’ training programme that will allow up to 400 people to continue working at Olympic venues.
The workers had short-term, training-grade permits, rather than professional permits and would have had to leave their jobs over the coming months.
The programme will ensure that the workers can demonstrate professional competence through gaining a Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) card as required by construction industry regulations.
David McCarthy, Director of VASCOM, said: “Many experienced construction workers didn’t have the opportunity to complete a qualification in their specialist area, for whatever reasons. They were about to fall foul of new CSCS regulations by virtue of their cards expiring.
“This programme gives opportunities to local people not only to remain in work but also to take on jobs at Olympic sites up until 2018.
“The complications regarding construction regulations have hit the industry nationally and this programme has provided a practical way to address them.
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“Our ethos is to qualify people to the level of their abilities so that they can provide for themselves, their families and, importantly, remain in employment. We’re also fully supportive of the Olympic legacy.”
For more information about completing a construction related NVQ Level 2 or one of the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health courses, contact Roderick Sutherland at Newham College on (020) 8257 4647.
