Integrated Health Projects (IHP), the joint venture between VINCI Building and Sir Robert McAlpine, has teamed up with Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust (GMMH), Manchester City Council, and the Skills Construction Centre, to open a new Community Skills Centre for North Manchester.
The centre, which officially opened on 12 September, is situated on the construction site of GMMH’s new £105m adult mental health inpatient unit, North View, which will replace Park House on the North Manchester General Hospital (NMGH) site.
The hands-on skills centre will support residents aged 16-24 who are not in employment, education, or training (NEETs) to gain new skills and experience for employment and will help close the future construction skills gap.
It will provide local people furthest away from the labour market the opportunity to gain a Level 1 Award in a construction trade of their choice, alongside basic digital, maths, and English skills, a CV, Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) Card, and a minimum of 70 hours practical work experience on the new build of GMMH’s North View adult mental health facility.
We understand the barriers some young people face getting into employment and believe everyone should be provided with the opportunity to showcase their best qualities away from the traditional interview
Each ‘Trade Cohort’ delivered through the centre will support 15 trainees.
And a second cohort which will focus on training for basic DIY skills and digital skills is also planned, which will allow people to save money and be online efficient.
Danielle Doherty, VINCI Building’s social value manager, said: “Teaming up with Skills Construction Centre allows us to provide a very-different training environment from mainstream education providers, which is so important as many NEETs have struggled or have previously been excluded from school and would not thrive in a traditional college setting.
As part of the scheme, trainees will get a minimum of 70 hours practical experience on the site of the North View mental health facility
“We understand the barriers some young people face getting into employment and believe everyone should be provided with the opportunity to showcase their best qualities away from the traditional interview.
“Providing training and a minimum of 70 hours work experience allows candidates to gain confidence and showcase their work ethic away from an otherwise stressful setting.”
The construction of our new £105m mental health unit provides an excellent opportunity for local people who aren’t in employment, education, or training
Marc Reed, associate director of capital, estates, and facilities at GMMH, added: “We are delighted to be partnering with IHP to provide training and work experience opportunities to North Manchester’s communities.
“We are passionate about improving the lives of our most-vulnerable residents in any way we can; and moving into training and employment is a great step that can have a really-positive impact on mental health.
“The construction of our new £105m mental health unit provides an excellent opportunity for local people who aren’t in employment, education, or training to do just this.”
Work on North Viewm designed by Gilling Dod Architects, started in August 2022, with the new unit anticipated to be built and open next year.
Once completed, the upgrade will house a purpose-built psychiatric intensive care unit (PICU), eight adult acute wards, and a treatment suite.
And the new development will see significant improvements to patient experience, with spacious single bedrooms, each with a private en-suite shower room, as well as a variety of indoor activity areas, meeting rooms for family visiting, multiple gardens, spaces for therapeutic artwork, and a café.
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- Companies:
- Sir Robert McAlpine
- Gilling Dod Architects
- Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust