Workplace is a recruitment centre in Newham that is committed to helping employers find the right local people to work for them and to supporting local people who want those jobs. Our free service is on offer to Newham residents and employers across London.
A Fitting Job
September 02, 2011
With days to go before the
opening of Westfield Stratford
City on 13 September, the
finishing touches are being
made to the most significant
retail development in
Newham’s history.
Westfield’s mammoth 180-acre site will house 300 shops, 70 restaurants and a 17-screen cinema. But most notably, around 10,000 jobs have been created. Dimeari Cookey, from Plaistow, is one of thousands of residents who have been helped by Workplace to secure employment. Dimeari was referred to Workplace, the council’s job brokerage service, by Plaistow Job Centre Plus. He explained: “Before the financial market collapsed, I did office work. When that changed, I saw it as an opportunity to retrain.”
Keen to learn a trade, Dimeari initially undertook CSCS (construction skills certificate scheme) training – essential for anyone who wants to work within the construction industry – before deciding the best way to learn a new skill was via an apprenticeship.
He began forging his new career with a NVQ level 1 in multi-skills at Canning Town’s Anchor House as part of East Potential’s construct your career scheme, and progressed to level 2 in shop-fitting at Stratford’s Building Crafts College. Usually a two year commitment with weekly day release for college, Westfield created a fast-track apprenticeship where candidates spend four days in college and one on site. This meant students like Dimeari were able to qualify and be available for work much sooner.
Dimeari is working on the fit out for TGI Fridays and thrives on the gruelling 7am-7pm shifts. He puts his new found career down to focus, saying: “To come from a period of no work and no job and still believe you can make a change, focus and concentrating on your goals is key. If you plant a tree it won’t bear fruit straight away, but as long as you keep watering the seed it will grow. With that knowledge I have persevered – and my efforts have born fruit for me.”
Construction jobs at WorkplaceWorkplace has skilled and unskilled vacancies in the construction industry, including trade and plant operatives. To find out more and register visit www.newhamworkplace. co.uk, drop in to their offices in Stratford, Broadway; East Ham, High Street South; and Canning Town; Silvertown Way. Call 020 3373 1101 to book an appointment.