Skills People Group Blog

When Gerald Balding joined the Built to Last  programme, he was facing one of life’s toughest challenges — homelessness. After years of unpredictable agency shifts in warehousing, he wanted more than just temporary work; he wanted a future. That’s when he found the Built to Last programme, a CITB-funded initiative delivered by Construction Skills People under the ECO25 contract . The programme is designed to help employers bring new talent into the construction industry, while offering individuals the support and skills they need to thrive. Gerald began his journey at the Nottingham Skills Academy , where he obtained his CSCS card (funded by the Construction Skills People) before enrolling on the Department for Education’s Green Construction Operative Skills Bootcamp , specialising in bricklaying. From the start, the   Built to Last    team identified areas where Gerald could benefit from extra support, including communication skills, financial management, and u...

Sometimes, the smallest act of kindness can set off a chain of events that changes more than one life. It all began on a rainy Sunday in Peterborough. Brandon Cox , out of work himself, pulled up outside a local Co-Op in his van. Outside, huddled beneath a duvet and the downpour, was a man named Decan. But instead of asking for spare change, Decan Wallis approached Brandon with a request that stopped him in his tracks. “I don’t suppose you have any labourer jobs going, mate? I’m desperate to work hard and get off the streets. I’ll do it for £60 a day.” Brandon later shared that moment on LinkedIn, writing about how humbled he felt. Here was someone in the toughest of circumstances, asking not for handouts, but for the chance to work. “I’ve never felt so humbled in my life,” Brandon wrote. “There are real, genuine people out there struggling who just want an opportunity.” What Brandon didn’t expect was how far that post would travel — or how it would change both their lives. 💛 A Chance...