A new Town Hall-run training centre has opened its doors to teach painting, decorating and carpentry skills to a new generation of construction workers.

The facility in Station Road, Tufnell Park, will be home to a dozen trainees for the next three months as they gain skills with Islington Council’s repairs team.

Trainees, aged 16-23, will spend the next 12 weeks on the programme run in partnership with City and Islington College. They will spend some of the time working with skilled operatives in the repairs team.

The training facility was built alongside a new joinery workshop, which makes door and window frames for council homes, as part of the council’s move to bring housing repairs back in-house.

Trainees have been referred to the programme through the council’s youth employment team and leaving care teams, as well as a number of youth clubs across the borough.

They will also study English and maths, acquire construction skills, and learn how to write their CV and apply for jobs.

Some of the young people may then go on to undertake an apprenticeship with the council in September.

Town Hall leader Councillor Richard Watts said: “We owe it to our young people to give them the help they need to get the careers they deserve.”

• Keywords
  BUILDING TRADE, EDUCATION, APPRENTICESHIP
• Geographical keyword
  STATION ROAD, TUFNELL PARK