Developing opportunities for residents

We’ve been working together with our development partners and contractors to deliver more opportunities for residents to make Waltham Forest a great place to live. 

We look back at what our developments at Fellowship Square and Marlowe Road have delivered for residents last year. 

Getting into work and providing pathways for residents is one of the many benefits from development. Our development partners, Countryside Partnerships, part of Vistry has provided virtual work experience through the Destiny Work Experience programme for 33 residents. Waltham Forest residents will have the ability to join and access the programme at any point during the year.

In partnership with Women in Construction, two residents benefited from work experience placements based at Fellowship Square and the other at Marlowe Road recently, one of the residents has been offered a job following the placement.

Working with Waltham Forest College, several work experience placements were offered across the Fellowship Square and Marlowe Road sites, and five Waltham Forest residents have been successful in gaining apprenticeships with local contractors working on the build.

Omar, a Chingford resident doing an electrical apprenticeship with Colne Valley, said: 

“I was doing the Level 2 apprenticeship with the local college and there was an event with apprenticeship opportunities, and Countryside helped me, took me into sessions where they’d look over our CVs, how to operate and go on to interviews. Eventually they managed to get me in for a week’s work experience. I came in for the week, I think I did alright, and thankfully they gave me an opportunity and kept me on which was first a self-employed contract until I could start the apprenticeship come September and I’ve been here ever since. 

"I’m in my first year, roughly two months into the apprenticeship but six months with the company. I’m loving it, I’ve learnt a lot of new stuff, especially recently. I’m mostly on second fix at the minute but going around I’m getting quicker by the day and learning little tricks and the electrician I’m with right now is very good so I’m learning a lot and enjoying it. After my apprenticeship I want to get my Gold Card, I would like to stay here with Colne Valley, I really like how they operate, maybe some private work too but I’m mostly set on staying with the company if I could. 

"When I was in Waltham Forest College, I’d walk past Fellowship Square and not realise what was happening and when I was with Countryside for a site tour little did I know I’d be working on this site, so this is a full circle moment for me.”

Other opportunities offered included an Intercollege event project aimed at encouraging young people to get into construction, mock interviews for residents, CV workshops, and an Employability Programme where candidates had the opportunity to learn about different trades, sign up for work experience, complete a Construction Skills and Certificate Scheme (CSCS) card and move to secure an apprenticeship. In total 16 candidates participated, nine of whom successfully secured CSCS cards.   

As well as job opportunities, our development partner Countryside Partnerships have also funded and contributed to many projects for the local community across the borough. For example, the donation of kitchens to local organisations such as Built on the Rock and St Barnabas, and the donation of £42,000 worth of surplus stock items from other sites to support voluntary and community groups.

To find out more about local job opportunities, visit Waltham Forest Jobs.