council Archives - Capital City College Group

A new Enfield Construction Skills Academy has been launched at the borough’s Meridian Water regeneration site to train hundreds of people to work in the industry each year.

Meridian Water is Enfield Council’s massive £6 billion 20-year project to build 10,000 new homes and create 5,000 jobs on a site next to Lee Valley Regional Park in Edmonton.

Delivered by Enfield Council with Countryside Partnerships and Capital City College Group (CCCG), the Skills Academy will provide the skills and qualifications needed to work in the sector. It has already started accepting students and aims to train more than 500 people a year.

Training is being provided by the College of Haringey, Enfield and North East London (CONEL), part of CCCG, and will place a special focus on teaching sustainable construction methods including how to retrofit buildings to higher energy insulation standards.

Apprenticeships are available in plumbing, electrical installations, carpentry, brickwork, thermal insulation, assembly and installation, design and build, floor laying roofing, groundwork, site supervision and engineering. CONEL is also be offering free short courses in construction and employability skills.

The Skills Academy forms part of the initial phase of Meridian One, the first development at Meridian Water. Meridian One includes the construction of nearly 1,000 homes alongside several infrastructure works, such as the recently completed Meridian Water railway station.

Totalling 948 square metres, the Skills Academy features a reception area, canteen, offices, visitor centre, classrooms, workshops and an external area for outside training exercises. Designed by Hawkins\Brown, the building reflects the site’s former industrial heritage.

Cllr Nesil Caliskan, Leader of Enfield Council, said: “This project will provide local residents with opportunities to train and learn new skills, opening the doors to future careers in the construction industry. Edmonton residents will be the primary beneficiaries of Meridian Water, and the Skills Academy is yet another example of how local people will benefit from the development.

“As well as new homes, our development at Meridian Water is building a vibrant local economy and I look forward to seeing the Skills Academy in action soon.”

Ray Toft, Managing Director at Countryside Partnerships London Developments, said: “True regeneration is about much more than just delivering new homes. Via our innovative Skills Academy, Meridian One is providing skills and training opportunities for the community, upskilling local people, which in turn supports the local economy.

“The Academy will also provide much-needed training on sustainable methods of construction. Such skills are crucial for the future success of our business and the sector as a whole.”

Robin Hindley, Vice Principal of CONEL, said: “CCCG is proud to be the official training provider for the Skills Academy, which will deliver a pipeline of skilled workers for the huge regeneration of Enfield on the Meridian Water site.

“We have many years’ experience at CONEL running construction courses and apprenticeships, which we will use to train thousands of local people in the construction trades and sustainable development, as well as giving them the employability skills they need to improve their job prospects.

“We are tremendously excited to be working with Enfield Council and Countryside Partnerships on this project, which will be a massive boost to the borough’s economy and create a better future for those living in Enfield.”

Find out more about the Enfield Construction Skills Academy and apply here.

Eco-friendly English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) students have been making Haringey greener by planting flowers and trees in the borough.

Around 15 students at the College of Haringey, Enfield and North East London (CONEL) planted 300 potted snowdrops and lavenders at Bruce Castle Park in partnership with Putting Down Roots.

Putting Down Roots is a project run by homeless charity St Mungo’s that uses gardening to build self-esteem and social skills among people who have faced difficulties in their lives.

Many ESOL students at the CONEL have fled war and persecution in their home countries and found the gardening project has helped with their mental health and settling into the UK.

Sahil Ferozie, 16, who is from Afghanistan and is studying ESOL Entry 1 course, said: “There were a lot of bombs and fighting. I lost my father two years ago and after that I could not continue my education at school. I had to work as a taxi driver to make money because I was the oldest child in my family. It caused a lot of stress and was not good.

“The gardening I have been doing has helped with my mental health. It’s good to get fresh air and it has helped me relax. I talk to my family every day and the problems are still there, but it helps me to take my mind off what is happening a bit when I am busy doing some work here.

“I enjoyed planting the flowers and seeing a tree that was 500 years old in the park. It helped me to meet other people, practise my English and learn some new skills. I’m very proud of what we have done. It’s good to be able to do something for the environment, it’s good for our future.”

“I am enjoying my course at college and improving my English. My teacher is very good and gives me advice. We have learnt how to order some food in a restaurant, buy a train ticket, make a doctor’s appointment. This is my chance to continue my education. I like it and I’m really happy.”

Last month ESOL students were part of a team of volunteers who planted more than 400 trees at Perth Road Playing Fields as part of Haringey Council’s efforts to tackle climate change and increase biodiversity.

They were joined by project partners Marlborough Highways and The Conservation Volunteers in planting native saplings including oak, field maple, wild apple, rowan and hawthorn.

Natanya Jeffery, Work Experience and Industry Placement Officer for ESOL, said: “Our ESOL students come from all parts of the world and including many who have experienced personal trauma. Despite what they have been through they are thriving and look forward to the future living in Britain.

“Our role as a college is about giving the opportunities to develop English language and skills for life including employability opportunities and volunteering, like the gardening projects with St Mungo’s and Haringey Council, to help them meet people and integrate into society.

“Many of them live in a room in shared accommodation or with foster parents, which makes them feel quite isolated, so it was nice for them to get out and do something different. They’ve told friends they have made in other ESOL groups how much they enjoyed planting the flowers and trees and other groups now look forward to more volunteering activities in the borough that they can participate in. It’s all been very positive.”

ESOL courses are available at CONEL to 16-18s and adult students from Pre-entry to Level 1 and cover reading, writing, speaking and listening. Find out more and apply here.

Enfield Construction Skills Academy at Meridian Water site will create hundreds of jobs each year

A new Enfield Construction Skills Academy has been launched at the borough’s Meridian Water regeneration site to train hundreds of people to work in the industry each year.

Find out more about the Enfield Construction Skills Academy and apply here.

ESOL students grow in confidence as they make Haringey greener

Eco-friendly English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) students have been making Haringey greener by planting flowers and trees in the borough.

ESOL courses are available at CONEL to 16-18s and adult students from Pre-entry to Level 1 and cover reading, writing, speaking and listening. Find out more and apply here.