25 Jul Harlow initiative addresses skills shortage in the construction
by Matthew Martino
A new and unique initiative, with a mission to help people make a career in the construction industry, has been launched in Harlow.
The new company, CWOATA Ltd, will not only be of interest to anyone looking to learn a construction trade, but it will also be of major interest to local construction companies looking for high-quality, motivated trainees.
CWOATA stands for Construction Workforce Operative And Trainee Assessment. The company specialises in Pre-Employment Assessment of candidates wanting to make a career in the construction industry.
This assessment takes the form of a 5-day course at CWOATA’s unit in Burnt Mill, Harlow, during which candidates are exposed to a broad range of typical on-site tasks. The course is not intended to train candidates in a trade, but to allow them to ‘get a feel’ for the on-site environment, and decide whether construction is for them.
At the same time, the course allows experienced construction professionals to assess candidates for basic employability skills, such as attitude and motivation. Candidates who successfully complete the course (which is not guaranteed) are then employed by CWOATA, and offered to construction companies as trainees.
CWOATA’s 5-day Pre-Employment Assessment Training (PEAT) course is open to men and women of all ages, and applicants need no qualifications or experience of the construction industry. The course is free to candidates under most circumstances. After successful completion of the PEAT course, candidates are guaranteed a job which leads to the opportunity to qualify in a trade
