Brett Loverance of Peterlee has become the latest in a line of locals to secure employment with Wates Living Space as it delivers home improvement works to 1,000 properties in the area for East Durham Homes.

The 19-year-old, who has been unemployed since leaving school has joined Wates as a full-time Administration Trainee. He is now set to work on projects across East Durham, whilst receiving mentoring via the contractor's Trainee Programme.

The initiative has seen the affordable housing contractor pledge to utilise its work in the area to create local career opportunities within the construction industry.

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This also involved the introduction of a national training scheme, through which ten teenage jobseekers were taught a variety of construction skills such as carpentry, tiling and plumbing. All participants on Wates' 'Building Futures' were rewarded for their efforts with a QCF Level 1 Award in Building Crafts accreditation and undertook a CSCS test as a means of securing access to future work on building sites.

Brett commented: "I am really enjoying my trainee employment with Wates Living Space. I was surprised to find that there are so many different sides of the business and I am getting a lot of experience in a variety of these whilst working for East Durham Homes. Wates is a company very focused on people and I am looking forward to my career progression and hope to work my way up to a site manager position."

(CD)