West Yorkshire’s Deputy Mayor Visits Building Futures Together
West Yorkshire’s deputy mayor Alison Lowe has visited G&H Group’s in-house training centre, Building Futures Together, to see how young people are benefitting from the Mayor of West Yorkshire’s Safer Communities Fund.
Building Futures Together received £7905 from the fund, which gives money seized from criminals to community-based organisations that are making their area safer. Building Futures Together provides young people, including students who are struggling with the curriculum in school or are missing from education, the opportunity to receive hands-on learning and insight into the construction sector.
Graham Kelly, G&H Group chairman and Building Futures Together co-founder, and John Thornton, managing director at Building Futures Together, showed Alison around the facility, which will provide 200 sessions across the 2023/24 academic year.
The deputy mayor met with students and learnt how Building Futures Together is providing young people pathways to employment through vocational learning, and how it is collaborating with local schools to help them meet their Gatsby Benchmarks (the defined framework for what world class careers provision looks like in education), increase engagement and attendance.
Speaking at the visit, Deputy Mayor Lowe said: “Here in West Yorkshire, we’re sending a clear message that crime doesn’t pay.
“It is fantastic that we can re-invest money taken from criminals back into projects working to support people in our communities, just like Building Futures Together.
“Their work goes far beyond teaching practical skills. They are encouraging these young people to be ambitious, believe in themselves, and reach their full potential, all important life lessons that I have no doubt will stay with them for years to come.”
Graham Kelly said: “A key part of G&H Group’s social value strategy is to support young people and provide a route into the construction industry.
“Building Futures Together was created to provide a nurturing and structured environment where young people receive hands-on learning and insight. The funding received from the West Yorkshire Mayor makes a real difference and ensures students have access to vocational learning and a stepping stone to a future career in the construction sector.
“It was a pleasure to host Alison and showcase the positive difference John and the Building Futures Together team are making in the local community.”
Community Interest Company Building Futures Together was co-founded in 2020 to help prevent young people from adding to the growing number becoming not in education, employment or training (NEET). It supports students who have a passion to join the industry and helps schools to engage with pupils who struggle with the curriculum or are missing from education.
Between January 2023 and January 2024, Building Futures Together delivered 1209 places giving young people the opportunity to experience vocational learning.
Building Futures Together’s training facility is split into eight bays providing 24 individual spaces, one project room and a newly created classroom to assist in the delivery of entry level/level one qualifications. The space can cover a range of mechanical, electrical, plumbing and air conditioning services.
Sessions run from 09.20am until 2.30pm, Monday to Friday during term time, with the students attending receiving training and support in a structured and nurturing environment, from three members of staff.
Established in 1998, G&H Group is a market leading mechanical, electrical, and public health (MEP) provider. Its 180-strong experienced team design, manage, deliver and maintain every aspect of MEP schemes.
