Willmott Dixon’s Stockport interchange development is equipping local young people with skills to find work in the construction industry through hands-on training at the on-site Building Lives Academy
Willmott Dixon has constructed a Building Lives Academy on-site at the Stockport interchange development that is providing qualifications including a CSCS card following an intensive four-week course and a Health & Safety in Construction Level 1 certification.
The training is being run alongside Groundwork Greater Manchester’s Stockport sustainable futures construction programme, funded by the Prince’s Trust.
Young local people will gain the skills to start a career in construction
The first ten students are young people aged between 18-25 from Stockport.
They are not currently in education, employment or training, and some have recently left the care home system. The on-site training gives these students hands-on experience as well as employability skills they can build on to find construction sector jobs.
In addition to work experience, site visits, health and safety training and achieving their CSCS cards, Building Lives Academy students get advice on managing personal finances and budgeting skills as well as CV writing support and interview practice.
One Building Lives Academy student, Cain Powers-Evans from Stockport, said the course has made a real difference: “It’s transformed my confidence. I wanted to go into landscaping or bricklaying and I didn’t know much about construction, but it’s been a really good experience. I enjoyed the course. I learned lots about the health and safety aspects and I really enjoyed the on-site work experience placement.”
The Stockport Interchange will prioritise accessibility and green spaces
Due to open in Spring 2024, the transport interchange – delivered in partnership with Stockport Council, Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) and the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) – will incorporate a fully accessible and covered passenger concourse with seated waiting areas and 18 bus stands, providing capacity for future growth.
A major feature of the scheme is the two-acre rooftop park which will improve leisure and recreation opportunities in the town centre and create more green space.
As part of the wider Greater Manchester Bee Network vision, there will also be new cycling and walking routes connecting to the train station, as well as to the Trans Pennine Trail and town centre. The scheme is part of wider efforts to create social value in the local area.
Cllr Colin Macalister, cabinet member for Economy and Regeneration at Stockport Council, said: “The creation of Stockport Interchange is a fantastic opportunity for some of our young men and women in the borough to start their careers on a transformational development in the heart of our town centre. Being able to start their careers on a project such as this will enable our youngsters to develop some valuable skills as they begin their working life.”
