Justin Devaney, Operations Director at Platt & Reilly, shared a compelling story with Beena Nana, FIS Head of Skills and Training about an innovative strategy to address the skills shortage in the UK.
When speaking to Justin, he expressed his passion for our industry to address the skills shortage in the UK. He explained that he believes that innovation is the key and that there is an untapped opportunity for a viable, sustainable workforce of currently underemployed people in the UK who could become valuable contributors to the industry if given the right opportunities.
Justin said: “I am currently working on a project in London, near Elephant and Castle, where there is a very high Latin American population but my research shows there are zero Latin American women within construction in the UK. This is the very definition of “Underemployment”. “As I was staying in South London, I visited an Ecuadorean restaurant in Elephant and Castle. In the very busy restaurant, I sat near three ladies Mayra Ortega Mon, Belen Cadario, and Estaphanie Gonzaga. They told me about their various jobs as cleaners and some of their background.
Mayra, originally from Guayaquil, Ecuador, was living in Spain during the financial crash. Determined to provide a better future for her young family, she courageously relocated to London to start anew in the UK. Belen, originally from Bolivia, has been living in London and working in various roles. She is looking for, and eager to take on, a new and challenging position. Estaphanie, also from Ecuador, has been working in the UK alongside Mayra and Belen. “I could see from the discussion that they all had a strong work ethic and were fearless which would allow them to embrace new challenges and opportunities without hesitation. Their goals were always to work hard so they could elevate their family’s lives. “To my surprise, they were very interested in the project I was working on and wanted to know more about how to become spray painters applying mist coat on site, and what the training would entail including completing the NVQs in painting and decorating. “When other Latinas see how successful the girls are, they will be more likely to enter the world of construction, as they will see that it is receptive to everyone. I will always hire for attitude and train for ability. “This coincidental meeting led to the employment of the three ladies by Platt & Reilly as Apprentice spray painters.”.
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