Rochdale Building Trainees celebrate Housing Market Renewal Funding

Khalid Mahmood with other trainees at the Building Trades Agency.

Rochdale building trainees celebrated the news that £67.5 million of Housing Market Renewal (HMR) Funding for Rochdale and Oldham will create more local construction jobs over the next fifteen years. 

Twenty-three people are currently taking part in wage-based training in brick-laying, plastering, tiling, joinery and plumbing at the Building Trades Agency on Haynes Street, Rochdale.  These skills will prepare them to take advantage of the jobs created by the HMR project that aims to build and refurbish thousands of homes in Rochdale and Oldham as well as boosting the local economy.   

Khalid Mahmood, 29, of Bellshill Crescent, Belfield, has almost completed a three-month course in plastering.  Mr Khalid said, “This is really good news.  I used to work in a factory, but there are fewer factory jobs available in Rochdale now.  I’ve really enjoyed my training and it’s great to hear that there is likely to be a growing demand for the skills I’ve learnt.”

John Harrison, 28, of Hill Top Drive, Kirkholt, has just started multi-trades course that will equip him skills in brick-laying, plastering, tiling, joinery and plumbing.  Mr Harrison said, “I was a sheet-metal worker for eleven years, but I fancied a change of direction and wanted to learn something new.   When I finish the course I hope to get a job in construction or maybe become self-employed.”

West Pennine Housing Association manages the Building Trades Agency.  Rochdale Boroughwide Housing, the Neighbourhood Renewal Fund, New Heart for Heywood New Deal for Communities, Jobcentre Plus and J21 (a Housing Market Renewal-funded project) fund the Building Trades Agency.