Innovative Council Scheme to Provide Job Opportunities for Leeds Youngsters (Leeds Liberal Democrats)

Leeds Liberal Democrats <info@leedslibdems.org.uk>

Innovative Council Scheme to Provide Job Opportunities for Leeds Youngsters

February 23, 2006 12:00 AM

Leeds City Council's Executive Board Member responsible for Learning, Cllr Richard Harker, welcomes a new scheme aimed at providing training in construction skills. Under the scheme, 25 places will be funded on a job-focused training course at the Construction Skills Learning Centre on Clarence Road.

Councillor Richard Harker (Lib Dem, Moortown) said "This is a good example of the Liberal Democrat, Green and Conservative administration's commitment to narrowing the gap between the most disadvantaged people and communities in Leeds and the rest of the city. In funding this training, we are providing 25 people with an opportunity to launch a career in the construction industry that otherwise would not have been available to them."

"There will also be benefits for the wider local economy. The scheme will help to reduce the chronic skills shortage faced by the construction industry as it strains to keep pace with the demand for new building projects in Leeds".

Notes to Editors:

1. The Council's Construction Skills Learning Centre on Clarence Road near the city centre provides training in the construction trades for young people and adults. It offers on-site training with work experience on projects across the city.

2. Leeds City Council will use £100,000 from the ODPM's Local Authority Business Growth Incentive Scheme to fund 25 places on training courses at the Centre.

The views in this Press Release are those of the Liberal Democrat Council Group, and not necessarily those of Leeds City Council, its Officers or of the Liberal Democrat Party.