Employers

Solihull Community Housing (SCH) is an ‘arms length management organisation’ engaged by Solihull Metropolitan Council to manage the Decent Homes project. SCH works in partnership with local contractors Frank Haslam Milan, Mansells Construction, Radway Windows and Doors, and Excelsior Lifts, who carry out construction work for the Decent Homes programme.

Solihull College Employer Services is one of the leading training providers in the West Midlands and Warwickshire delivering training for clients in Birmingham, Walsall, Wolverhampton, Coventry and across the UK.

Pathway Programmes

Solihull College and SCH developed and delivered the Pathways programmes as intensive 13 week courses leading to national accreditation through City and Guilds. Programmes have been developed for pre-employment learners who needed confidence, self esteem and other ‘soft’ skills alongside job search, and programmes for job-ready learners who needed construction skills such as plastering, painting and decorating and refurbishment skills. Participants developed a work ethic through full-time, punctual attendance.

Training Pods

Learners work in individual training ‘pods’ which enabled them to develop skills at their own pace in a simulated real work environment. The content and delivery is constantly reviewed and adapted to meet the needs of learners and the Partnership.

The Programme, Pathways, has ensured that local contractors can access a pool of job-ready applicants trained to their requirements, and has facilitated refurbishment of local housing by local people.

The Chief Executive of SCH explained:

"Organisationally, the Project has enabled SCH to achieve many of its community engagement, development and employment goals for sooner than was originally envisaged. Through the partnering arrangements and sharing of resources with Solihull College, we were able to establish a local presence within a few months and begin delivering 13 week job focused programmes within 9 months.

An extremely short development time from conception and design through to delivery, and an achievement of which we are all justifiably proud. In terms of community impact and benefits, local people have an accessible, customer focused training centre, aimed at increasing their skill base and finding them sustainable employment within a local and regional growth sector."

Solihull College has replicated Pathways with the 16-19 intake and in other vocational areas, and have shared our expertise with other partnerships in the area, demonstrating that Pathways provides an effective model for social and economic inclusion.

As a result of increased employer engagement, the training offer at the Construction Centre has now been further developed, and now included development opportunities that can be offered across Birmingham and the West Midlands:

More Opportunities

• Apprenticeship schemes in plastering, bricklaying, painting and decorating and floor and wall tiling
• OSAT and EWPA
• Day-release construction programme for 14-16
• Full-time basic construction skills for 16-19
• Specialism such as bricklaying, plastering, painting and decorating or carpentry
• 6 month ILM offer managed through the partnership
• Health & Safety, First Aid
• CSCS card training and testing
• Bespoke provision for local businesses.