A scheme to tackle unemployment by offering construction training and apprenticeships has been launched in Stoke-on-Trent. Louise Psyllides spoke to home owners and young people to benefit from the project

"I CRIED when I saw it – it's like a different house."

Stoke-on-Trent City Council tenant Jill Stubbs is thrilled with the much-needed transformation of her Weston Road home in Meir.

Under the Government's Decent Homes programme, staff from housing maintenance firm Kier Stoke have installed a brand new kitchen and bathroom.

Yesterday, Mrs Stubbs welcomed bosses from Kier and national training organisation ConstructionSkills as part of the launch of a National Skills Academy for Construction for Stoke-on-Trent.

The academy, which includes a £5 million vocational training centre in Federation Road, Burslem, aims to encourage hundreds of people to get involved in the construction sector and improve the skills of those already in the industry. Bosses joined Kier staff at work on a home in Burns Row, Meir, to see an example of the projects trainees could be working on, before moving on to the stark contrast of the Stubbs family home, where work was completed 10 days ago.

Mrs Stubbs, aged 47, who lives with husband David and daughter Vicky, aged 27, said: "We last had a new kitchen 24 years ago. I'm so pleased, and the bathroom suite is lovely as well.

"It took about two weeks – they were such good lads."

The Sentinel reported in December that Kier Stoke was launching a multi-million pound training and employment scheme.

The firm wants to take on at least 600 trainees from Stoke-on-Trent each year for the next three years.

They will be joined by dozens of apprentices who will be handpicked to work for Kier Stoke as they complete their training.

Now the firm has been officially designated as a National Skills Academy for Construction.

Peter Brynes, managing director at Kier Building Maintenance, said: "Our training plan is made up of 10 elements – ranging from site visits for junior and secondary schools and providing trainees engaged on construction-related courses at school or college with an opportunity to work on site, to encouraging apprenticeships across all the main construction trades and ensuring employment opportunities that arise are made available to local people via Jobcentre Plus.

"For us our work in Stoke-on-Trent is not just about a contract – we don't just move away when we've finished the job, we want to support the community."

Stoke-on-Trent City Council interim chief executive Chris Harman said the academy project was vital for the long-term regeneration of the city.

He said: "We're looking at building skills within the city. As part of the regeneration schemes that are going on, we want to generate jobs for local people.

"We have to do everything we can during the economic downturn to keep the city moving and making sure we're ready for the upturn.

"A lot of the companies involved in the regeneration are either local or recruit locally, and having a National Skills Academy operating here means talented and hard-working people will get the chance to train here.

"It's good for businesses, good for the city and good for the people."

Holly Boulton, aged 18, from Hartshill, is taking part in a business administration apprenticeship with Kier.

She said: "I started in September and I'm doing three months in each department, like financial administration, so I learn a bit about everything.

"I'd definitely recommend it to other people because employers want experience as well as grades now."