Building Lives to close this month

Grant Prior 8 years ago
Share

Construction training charity Building Lives will close at the end of this month.

The move comes after the organisation ran out of money and lost hope of securing more funds from the Construction Industry Training Board.

Donations from construction companies raised £400,000 for the charity to keep it going in the short-term last year.

Steve Radley, Director of Policy at CITB, said: “We have given a clear outline of our funding criteria, which we agreed with industry through extensive consultation last year.

“Crucially, all applications must be employer-led. Funding will be given only if other sources of funding are not available.

“Applicants must also provide solid evidence of how their project will benefit industry.”

Building Lives said: “Given the skills crisis in London, it is incredibly disappointing that we are unable to continue with our model, especially as it provides huge value for money for the tax payer.”

The orgaisation’s 16 staff are being made redundant while “training academies will be handed back to Building Lives’ partners to determine their future purpose from 30 June 2016.”

Building Lives was started by Lakehouse founder Steve Rawlings in 2010.

Building Lives Managing Director Sian Workman said: “In order to continue operating for another year, Building Lives needed £900,000 to deliver 380 Careerships across four Training Academies based in the heart of London Council Estates.

“That’s a drop in the ocean compared to how much money is spent for no guaranteed job outcomes.

“The bottom line is, although a Careership may not have fitted with existing government funding criteria, it led to real construction jobs, helping reduce unemployment and the skills shortage – ultimately, benefiting us all.

“I am deeply disappointed we have failed in our attempts to secure the financial support needed from government and the construction sector to continue. However, I am also incredibly proud of what the team has accomplished since Building Lives first opened its doors.

“Proud that we dared to be different and in the process supported more than a thousand people into construction careers.”

Latest news

John F Hunt wins 24-storey Battersea tower

Specialist to carry-out demolition, enabling works and RC frame construction
4 hours ago

William Hare wins steelwork on £500m Broadgate towers

Specialist to work on 2 Finsbury Avenue with McAlpine
5 hours ago

McAlpine appoints MD to grow ventures business

Owain Thomas will build on private rental and healthcare development successes
2 hours ago

BAM Co-op Live Arena opening delayed yet again

Another gig cancelled last night amid last minute safety concerns
8 hours ago

National Grid unveils winners for £9bn network upgrade

New 'enterprise model' to deliver infrastructure schemes quicker and cheaper
1 day ago

Turkish insulation panel maker to build £45m UK factory

Assan Panel to open first UK plant at Freeport East
8 hours ago

Expanding consultant Stantec swoops for Hydrock

Stantec UK business expands by a third as 950 staff join from Bristol-based engineer
1 day ago

Contractors wanted for £800m highways deal

Bids invited for Eastern Highways Alliance Framework 4
8 hours ago

Galliford Try names group head of infrastructure

David Lowery promoted to Divisional Managing Director – Infrastructure.
9 hours ago

Chigwell Group looks at stock market listing

Essex contractor registers as Public Limited Company
1 day ago

A57 Mottram Bypass clears final legal challenge

Balfour Beatty to get go-ahead to start shortly
1 day ago

100 jobs axed as Geoffrey Osborne confirms administration

Chairman Andrew Osborne calls it a 'sad day' as board loses fight for survival
2 days ago

Midgard set for Notting Hill office tower overhaul

Landmark project edges towards final approval after 10-year planning saga
1 day ago

Cumbrian civils firm clinches £40m Sellafield contract

Civils specialist Stobbarts will support McAlpine on groundworks and concrete
1 day ago

Designers named for London 2000-bed student rooms job

Bouygues will build £400m London School of Economics student scheme next to Tate Modern
1 day ago

£117m-turnover contractor files administration notice

ARJ Construction lodges court notice
2 days ago

£1bn London Blackfriars tower blocks approved

Trio of buildings rising to 45, 40 and 22 storeys approved by Southwark Council
2 days ago

Council decides to end Balfour deal after 13 years

Contractor has been maintaining roads across Herefordshire since 2013
2 days ago

Six civils clients to switch to low carbon concrete and steel

National Highways, Northumbrian Water and Sellafield sign fresh decarbonising pledge
3 days ago

Fortem extends homes repair deal across Birmingham

Willmott Dixon owned firm adds another two years to deal worth £170m
2 days ago

Kier wins £118m civil service Darlington hub

Work is expected to start towards the end of this year
3 days ago

Green light for 34-storey Digbeth apartments tower

480 flats will be delivered for Clarion housing association
2 days ago

LHC starts race for major retrofit and decarb framework

Hunt starts for firms to help with 6.1m social homes upgrade target
3 days ago

Windows giant Everest crashes into administration

Around 350 jobs at risk while hunt starts for a buyer to salvage business
3 days ago

Green light for £500m Newcastle health complex

Mixed use scheme will promote healthy living across all stages of life
3 days ago

Olympian Homes gets go-ahead for Bristol’s tallest building

Work on student and co-living towers to start this summer
3 days ago

ISG gets nod to start £20m Glamorgan school job

Ysgol y Deri specialist needs school is to built at Cosmeston, near Penarth
3 days ago

Walker Modular lands £5m bathroom pod contract

Specialist to work with Graham and Watkin Jones on major build-to-rent scheme

Banned building boss jailed for fraud

Court hears how disqualified director siphoned off cash from new housing company
3 days ago

Osborne staff start looking for new jobs

"Open to Work" flags appear on LinkedIn profiles
6 days ago

Contractor services