News: Wildgoose Construction builds partnership with Dearne Valley College

Wildgoose Construction has formed an innovative partnership with Dearne Valley College in Rotherham in a bid to give students a head-start in the building industry.

The link up will see local students benefit from work placements on Wildgoose Construction sites. The Derbyshire company has recently transformed the former Kimberworth Comprehensive School and has started on site at a £3.4m My Place Centre in Rotherham town centre.

Jonathan Wildgoose, chairman of Wildgoose Construction said: "Wildgoose welcomes the opportunity to support young people entering the building industry and especially to work with the staff and students at Wath, which has excellent courses for the building trades.

"As an Investor in People company, the Wildgoose name has always been associated with training and apprenticeship schemes and we are delighted to be able to assist these students on the first step of a career in the construction industry."

As part of the partnership, Jonathan Wildgoose went along to the college to present students with health and safety certificates.

The Construction Industry Training Board certificate is an introduction to site safety made up of 15 sections on risks and hazards associated with construction sites.

Covered over the course of a day with a multi-choice test at the end, students gain a basic understanding and awareness of health and safety duties and responsibilities of potential risks and hazards on a construction site.

As well as their certificates, students were also presented with high visibility jackets and hard hats.

Gary Lee, Dearne Valley College construction programme area manager, said he thought the partnership was a great idea.

He said: "We are delighted that Jonathan has taken the time out to attend college and present the students with their certificates. Through the partnership we are working towards enhancing the work placements to be developed into apprenticeship programmes."

Wildgoose website
DVC website

Images: Wildgoose