MP gives Salford scheme seal of approval
A scheme which creates more homes for local people and helps trainees into a job in the construction industry has got the seal of approval from MP Hazel Blears.
On a visit to her Salford constituency on Friday (6 Feb), the Secretary for Communities and Local Government visited a council property in Weaste, managed by Salix Homes, to see the results of a new social enterprise that has been set up in the city.
The project called B4Box has been running for the past five months and aims to give local people the skills and qualifications needed to get a job in the construction industry.
It will also help to improve social inclusion and the skills base across the city while reducing worklessness.
Salford City Council and Salix Homes, which manages 10,600 homes on behalf of the council, have teamed up with B4Box to let learners renovate properties as part of their hands-on training.
They will work alongside fully qualified contractors and once renovated the properties will be put back onto the council's rent roll as affordable housing for local people.
While on her visit the Salford MP got the chance to have a look around the ground floor flat on Cumbrae Gardens which is one of the first batch of properties to be renovated as part of the scheme. She also met some of the trainees and talked to people from Salix Homes:
Said Hazel Blears MP: "B4Box are leading the way in training young people to get the skills that will will put them in pole position to get good jobs now and in the future.
"Being able to do joinery, tiling and plastering to a high standard will always be in demand. These young people are very impressive and are helping to ensure that Salix homes has the best maintained properties for their tenants"
Added Joe Willis, director of services in neighbourhoods at Salix Homes "Investing in local people is one of our prioritities to help make central Salford a better place to live work and invest so we were keen to be involved in the project.
"Hazel gave us some great feedback and it's reassurance that we're doing good things in central Salford."
Added Councillor Peter Connor, Salford City Council's lead member for housing: "I am very impressed with B4Box's approach to construction training and it is great to see local people involved in bringing homes back into use. We are encouraging and assisting B4Box to work with our other housing partners in meeting housing need."
Hazel Blears also spoke to the scheme's founder, Aileen McDonnell, who said:
"Salford City Council is very clear about making sure local people benefit from the regeneration of the city. GM Procure and B4Box aim to develop the same possibilities for more people in other local authority areas."
For more information on B4Box and its partners visit www.bfbox.org
ENDS
Notes for editors
Salix Homes Ltd is helping to deliver Salford City Council's five-year strategy to bring all council housing up to the Decent Homes Standard, a multi-million pound vision for the city.
Salix Homes is an Arms Length Management Organisation (ALMO) and is a not-for-profit company responsible for the day-to-day management of 10,600 homes across Central Salford, Rainsough Brow and Beechfarm.
It also assists the council in the operational delivery of the Housing Market Renewal Programme.
For more information on Salix Homes, please contact Public Relations Officer, Katy Barnes on 0161 793 3157.
Salix Homes' involvement in the B4 Box project is supported by GM Procure, a North West based procurement consortium working with a range of housing providers to promote best practice.
B4Box is supported by the industry sector skills council ConstructionSkills and gives trainees the opportunity to study to NVQ Level 2 and 3 and work towards the correct certificates for a job in the construction industry.
More information on ConstructionSkills at www.cskills.org
Photo: Carl Lorenzelli, who's taking part in the scheme, and Hazel Blears MP.
Katy Barnes
Public relations officer
Tel: 0161 793 3157
Email: katy.barnes@salford.gov.uk
