Overview
We have had a relationship with Salford City Council and Build Salford for several years, their values of training and hiring local people on Salford based building sites fits with our ethos of giving young people a experiences they may not have otherwise had. Build Salford gives young people that are not in education, employment or training insights into joining the construction industry.
Build Salford offers a six-week traineeship programme for Salford residents between 16 and 24 years old who are interested in a career in the construction sector. Each of the young people were not in employment, education or training.
Participants will get the industry verified CSCS Card and guidance to complete a Level-One Health and safety course. Several of the people taking part in the programme go on to secure apprenticeships or work.
In May 2025 we invited Build Salford’s latest cohort of construction students to visit Longshaw Drive, our site in Little Hulton. This site consists of Houses and Apartments build to a Passivehouse standard. This site visit gave the students the chance to experience a new way of house building which is likely to accelerate in the future. Passivehouse homes are built to be incredibly energy efficient, Gary Pepper, Project Manager explained the intricacies of this project to the students. Gary has over 20 years’ experience and was able to explain the differences between this project and a traditional build including the importance of having trades trained in green energy skills.
The students came away from the experience having seen a innovative project firsthand and having learnt about the importance of energy efficiency in homes. They described the day as ‘incredibly interesting’.
Gary was also able to talk to students about his own career and the careers of colleagues to show the progression available in construction and encourage students to think where they might want to be in the future.
This enthusiastic group of young people were offered the wonderful opportunity to visit a live construction site as part of the Build Salford Traineeship.
Green skills are vital to the future of the construction industry, helping us reduce carbon emissions and improve energy efficiency. Site visits like this give trainees invaluable insight into modern methods of construction and the skills needed for the future.
For many on the programme, this will be their first time on a construction site, and the experience has given them a real understanding of health and safety procedures and how to conduct themselves in a live working environment.
Councillor Teresa Pepper
Lead Member for Skills and Work and Business
Salford City Council
It was fantastic to host these enthusiastic and inquisitive young people at our Longshaw Drive site in Little Hulton. It’s great to be able to extend the offer to the next generation of construction workers.
Lewis Welsby
Contracts Manager
Seddon
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS
