Housing scheme provides development opportunity for local apprentice

Pobl Group’s Ty Mawr development in Croespenmaen, Caerphilly county borough, is providing a fantastic learning and development opportunity for local carpentry apprentice Liam Baker. Liam has been on site for seven months, under the wing of Concept Carpentry, following a successful previous placement.

Liam is undertaking his apprenticeship at Coleg Gwent, Newport Campus and has recently started his third year.

Liam commented: “I really enjoy the hands-on experience of working and study once a week. I especially enjoyed being part of the Jehu and Concept team. The team at Concept have been extremely supportive in helping me to progress in my trade.”

Liam’s future plans are to complete his apprenticeship and hopefully secure a full-time position with Concept Carpentry.

Ty Mawr is being delivered by the Jehu Group on behalf of the Pobl and is due for completion at the beginning of 2021, providing much needed housing for the local area. The site will provide 50 quality homes with a mix of two and three bedroom houses and walk-up apartments, comprising both social rent and shared ownership homes.

Paul Powell, a carpenter with 36 years’ experience who has been overseeing Liam’s work, said: “Liam has fitted perfectly into the team, he’s got a keen eye for carpentry which is really important, and it helps that he wants to learn. I don’t need to tell him anything more than once he uses his initiative.”

Cllr Lisa Phipps, Cabinet Member for Housing and Property at Caerphilly Council said: “We’re delighted to be working in partnership with Pobl Group on the Ty Mawr development.  It’s great to see that, as well as bringing high quality affordable homes to the area for local people, the development is also helping to deliver much wider benefits for people like Liam.”

Ellis Cunliffe, Project Manager at Pobl Group said: “This is a fantastic example of how housing organisations can work together to create training and employment opportunities that will not just benefit young local people like Liam, but also the future of the sector”.

“As a not-for-profit organisation, and Wales’ largest housing provider, Pobl have a commitment to making a real difference in the communities where we work through schemes such as this. We wish Liam all the very best in his career and his future aspirations”.