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Hewlett gives two unemployed Leeds men the tools to build a new career.
Despite actively seeking work, Jamie Morrison, 18 and David Ruocco, 22 have been unemployed for over six months, but now thanks to Hewlett Civil Engineering the pair have been given the unique opportunity to get back into a work environment and obtain the tools to help them build a new career in the construction industry.
In partnership with Leeds Ahead and Job Centre Plus, the award-winning company, which has its head office at Thorpe Park in Leeds, has given Jamie and David full time employment for a period of six months.
Offering a structured work-focused paid placement in a ‘real life’ construction environment, Hewlett’s training/work module is designed to enable Jamie and David to gain new skills, build confidence, motivation, self esteem and, ultimately, support them towards employment.
The position created for Jamie and David is quite diverse, ranging from office/administrative work within Hewlett’s training department, to learning new skills in construction covering a wide spectrum of disciplines plus working on the company’s test centre site and within different construction projects.
Jamie and David will also be representing Hewlett, and the construction industry as a whole, in schools around Leeds. The pair recently helped Hewlett in their work with the Health & Safety Executive at an event held at the Harrogate Showground, which aimed to inform schoolchildren of the dangers of construction sites.
Comments Steve Vickers, Training Manager at Hewlett: “Hewlett take training seriously, not only for those already employed in the construction industry but for the next generation. We know that our industry needs enthusiastic youngsters to join our experienced workforce and Jamie and Dave are part of our efforts to make that happen.
“Both of these young men have made a significant commitment to our plans, as changing career is a brave step. They have come into a busy and demanding environment, have gained the respect of the team and are coping well with our demands.
“Jamie and David will be developing new skills, broadening their knowledge and understanding of the industry and narrowing down the direction that they want to take their future career. It will put them in a stronger position to find future work.”
David Ruocco has a BTEC National Diploma in Music Technology and had been struggling to find work. He says: “I’d been out of work for 2 years and I wasn’t seeing any sign of my job-seeking efforts coming to fruition. I decided to re-think my career path.
“It was quite daunting starting back to work after such a long time. My confidence had been knocked whilst looking for work but the team at Hewlett are really friendly and what I’m doing is seen as valuable – I feel I’m contributing to the business”.
Established in Leeds in 1987, Hewlett has progressively developed and expanded its activities from its head office in the city to establish itself as one of the North’s leading civil engineering contractors. The Company is focused on training with its own training school based at Cross Green in Leeds providing an extensive range of training programmes for both employer and employee.
The training facility, set on a 10-acre site, is the largest construction training area in Yorkshire, offering varied terrains and conditions to carry out instruction and assessments. It reflects 'live’ site conditions and is ConstructionSkills, City and Guilds, LANTRA and EDEXCEL accredited.