A PROGRAMME that is aiming to increase collaboration between home builders and colleges to enhance full time construction courses is being piloted in Burnley.
Prospect Homes will welcome students from Burnley College to its New Road development, Hollinsgate, later this year.
Supported by the Construction Industry Training Board and run by the Home Builders Federation (HBF), Partner a College is a two-year pilot programme that aims to better align vocational education with workforce needs. Through a partnership with industry, colleges will be able to better equip students with the work-ready skills that home builders and contractors need, enabling more students to join the workforce.
Apprentices studying bricklaying, painting, joinery and plastering at Burnley College will benefit from practical, onsite support and one-to-one mentoring from Prospect’s experienced site teams.
T Level students specialising in design, planning and surveying will gain hands on experience across Prospect’s design, surveying and construction management teams.
Michael Orgill, managing director at Prospect Homes, said: “Partnerships like this are absolutely vital if we want to inspire the next generation to see construction as a career they can thrive in. With more than 35,000 vacancies across the sector and over half of employers struggling to recruit because applicants don’t have the right skills, we have a responsibility to step up. Demand is only set to grow as the country works towards delivering 1.5 million new homes, so giving young people the confidence and real-world experience they need has never mattered more.
“We’re thrilled to be the first housebuilder who has joined this programme who is linked to a housing association. Prospect is part of The Riverside Group and all profits made from our home sales at are given back to Riverside to invest in social value work and communities across the UK.”
Walker Timber Engineering, one of Prospect’s trusted subcontractors, will also be involved to provide experience of modern methods of construction to the students.
Tom Fairlie, sales director at Walker Timber Engineering said: “We are delighted to be involved and lending support to the partnership by providing knowledge, education and an insight into timber frame construction. Homes built using timber frame are fast becoming the build method of choice and it is vital we support and assist young people on their career journey within the construction and housebuilding industry. Walker Timber Engineering are committed to supporting this initiative with our partner Prospect Homes and Burnley College.”
David Lord, head of construction and engineering at Burnley College said: “We are proud to join forces with Prospect Homes and the Home Builders Federation to ensure our learners gain exceptional, real‑world experience in their chosen craft areas. This partnership will empower them with the knowledge, skills and behaviours they need to thrive and build confident, successful futures.”
Andy George, director of skills and attraction at Home Builders Federation, said: “We’re delighted that Burnley College, Prospect Homes and Walker Timber Engineering are joining the Partner a College pilot, as the programme continues to grow. Through this partnership, the home building industry is continuing to demonstrate that it is acting proactively to bridge the gap between further education students and the realities of real-world work. Initiatives like this are crucial for futureproofing the construction workforce, particularly if we are to increase housing delivery and meet Government targets”
Prospect Homes will participate in the programme for a five year period to ensure the opportunity is fully maximised.
As well as apprentices, Prospect Homes has recently welcomed its third participant from the HBF’s Women into Home Building programme to Hollinsgate in Burnley.
