Bricklayers sharpen their skills on Sixth Form College build

Roy and Chris on site at the Rochdale Sixth Form Centre.

2 More Image(s) In Gallery

Two local construction workers who learnt their skills at Hopwood Hall College are now at work on the new Rochdale Sixth Form College currently being built in the town centre.
Roy Catlow and Chris Kenyon have started work with Bardsley Construction Ltd, the company building the £25m centre.

J21, Rochdale’s labour into construction initiative, helped both men find the openings on the Rochdale site. J21 is supported by the Oldham Rochdale Housing Market Renewal Pathfinder.

Both men are working as bricklayers on the project. Mr Catlow completed his foundation course in Brickwork earlier this year, as well as an intermediate award in brickwork and blockwork. Mr Kenyon also completed his City & Guilds Foundation and Intermediate Construction Awards in bricklaying.

Mr Catlow said: “I’d finished college and was looking for an apprenticeship as part of the third year of the course. I’d got in touch with J21 and they were really helpful. They sorted me out with some labouring work, then I started my apprenticeship work at the sixth form college.

“I’m really enjoying working here. It’s a good group of lads.”

Mr Kenyon added: “I trained and started this job at the same time as Roy. I’d found out about J21 and got in touch. They paid for my CSCS card and found me this job within a couple of weeks.”

The pair are part of two bricklaying teams on the site, learning from experienced bricklayers.

Paul Strutt, Managing Director of Bardsley Construction, said: “We have worked closely with J21 who proved invaluable in sourcing these local trainees. We hope further trainee positions can be offered as the build process continues and we have also committed to providing ongoing work experience places for a number of construction students.

"We are very pleased that we have been able to employ Roy and Chris and we hope that in doing so they will gain the necessary skills to enable them to complete their apprenticeships and become an asset to their local community.”

The new Rochdale sixth form college will open in September 2010 and accommodate around 1000 students.