Building Futures Together has welcomed the MP for Pudsey, Horsforth and Aireborough to show its work giving school pupils chance to try construction.
Stuart Andrew MP visited the Training Centre based in mechanical and electrical specialist G&H Group’s headquarters to see first-hand how pupils experience different trades before choosing their GCSEs.
Building Futures Together aims to help young people forge careers in construction, especially those who are hard to engage with at school, don’t know what they want to do when they leave and those who have fallen in with the wrong crowd.
Ward councillor for Pudsey, Swinnow and Tyersal, Dawn Seary, was also in attendance.
Stuart Andrew MP said: “It was a truly inspirational visit with Cllr Dawn Seary to see the work Building Futures Together is doing with young people.
“I have always been passionate about apprenticeships and skills training as a way of helping young people develop the skills they will need for later life.
“It’s important to value this way of giving them the best chance in life and seeing what Building Futures Together is doing was really impressive. They deserve praise for their dedication and commitment.“
Director at Building Futures Together, John Thornton, said: “Being recognised by a Member of Parliament and our area ward councillor is great testimony to the work we are doing and the results we are helping young people achieve.
“We hope that by demonstrating our work to local and national politicians it will help influence the decision making process and see greater changes made so more young people can benefit so we thank Stuart and Dawn for taking time to visit.
“Our courses are perfect for those who may not attain the required grades for apprenticeships but have the ability and work ethic to succeed in the industry.
“Following Brexit and the expected economic repercussions of Covid-19, young people are having to think extra hard about what they want to do when they leave school.
“Some you people will continue studying at school but others, especially those who teachers find hard to engage are being given a lifeline here to try something they might not have considered previously.
“The construction industry offers a vast range of career opportunities providing lifelong skills people can fall back on for the rest of their lives.”