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16th May 2001
PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP CEATES SIX NEW JOBS IN BARNSLEY
A partnership between Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council Housing Services and Barnsley Community Economic Regeneration Team (CERT, part of Barnsley Development Agency), with involvement from energy company TXU Europe, is creating six new jobs.
The pilot initiative will complement BMBC’s Energy Efficiency Strategy, which includes the innovative Energy in the Community partnership currently operating in Thurnscoe, by providing local people with the skills required by home insulation installation contractors.
Tricia Slater, project co-ordinator funded by Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council Housing Services and CERT, said: "We identified a skills gap in providing installation staff for contractors locally, and were able to secure funding for six trainees from New Deal Environment Task Force and Single Regeneration Budget (SRB). The initiative is a good example of how public and private sector organisations can work together in partnership for the benefit of the whole community, and if successful it could well lead to more jobs in the future."
All four of the new installation trainees are initially on one-year contracts, with the prospect of permanent work with a contractor on completion of the one year's work experience and training. Opportunities will exist for two of the trainees to continue for a further year and to graduate to assessor level in the second year of their employment, when two further trainees will be employed bringing the total to six new posts over two years.
The trainees will be working primarily for the Energy in the Community contractors within Thurnscoe, with additional work experience and training in other areas. They will become part of a team installing energy efficiency measures including cavity wall insulation, loft insulation, and draught proofing.
For many residents of Thurnscoe who qualify and have registered for TXU Europe's Energy in the Community programme, grants are available for insulation and other energy efficiency measures in the home. The newly appointed installers will be carrying out that work, which is helping Thurnscoe cut its CO2 emissions by up to 2.5 million kg a year, and save up to £200,000 on reduced energy bills in the process.
Because of the mobile nature of the installers' work, the ability to drive is often a pre-requisite of employment with an installation contractor. Being unable to drive is a barrier to entering this type of job, and the project has therefore also secured funding for driving lessons for any of the trainees requiring assistance with passing their driving test.
For further information contact Tricia Slater at Barnsley Development Agency's CERT Team, on (01226) 784444.
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