Oakwood extra care progresses well with apprentice help
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The Trust's new ShireLiving extra care scheme, Oakwood, in Wellington, is progressing well and on target to complete in April.
The development will provide 63 one and two-bedroom new homes for the over 55s, enabling residents to live independently with differing levels of care to suit their needs. Extra care schemes also let couples with different needs to continue to live together with care and support provided by on-site staff 24 hours a day.
The building is now water tight and internal work is progressing well, with the internal plastering almost complete and internal decoration under way.
As part of the construction, two of the Trust's electrical apprentices have been given the chance to gain skills and experience working on a large construction site.
Alongside contractors McPhillips and Kendalls, Ben Gojka and Thomas Horton, have had the opportunity to gain wider experience of electrical installation works, different working environments, health and safety and general construction, which will not only aid them in the completion of their apprenticeship but also give them a broad insight into the construction and property maintenance sectors.
Ben and Tom started their apprenticeships with the Trust in 2013 and spend one day a week at college studying for their electrical qualifications and the rest of the week on site.
Ben said: "Working on this extra care site has been a fantastic experience for us; my time working here has made me feel ready to go and work on other sites and use the skills I've learnt during my apprenticeship. I find it interesting because you get to do things that you wouldn't in normal properties as it's a much bigger building with more complicated electrical systems."
Matt Beckley, Project Manager for the Trust, said: "It's great to give our apprentices opportunities like this and their hard work on the site has been invaluable. Oakwood will be a fantastic addition to the area, with quality new homes for our ageing population, as well as a café open to the public."
As well as creating apprenticeship and job opportunities, the Trust's developments also provide a boost to local businesses and communities, including a local school project with Short Wood Primary School to create artwork which was used on the site hoardings.
For more information about Oakwood and the Trust's other ShireLiving schemes visit www.shireliving.co.uk
8th February 2016