Tŷ Gnoll Newydd Refurbishment Presents Unique Opportunity for NPT Homes Apprentices

Thu 22 Dec 2016

Apprentices Tomas Grace, Shane Lewis and Fraser Richards

NPT Homes and its partner Contract Services have teamed up to provide some of the housing provider’s apprentices with a unique opportunity to work and learn new skills on a major refurbishment programme.

The apprentices, Fraser Richards, Shane Lewis and Tomas Grace are currently working on the refurbishment of the Tŷ Gnoll Newydd housing complex in Neath. The work will see them take on a range of tasks during the project including plumbing, plastering, tiling and carpentry which will see them acquire new skills from a variety of trades.

Speaking about the opportunity, Tomas Grace said:
“It’s a great opportunity for me to work on the Tŷ Gnoll Newydd project. My background is in plumbing but being on the NPT Homes multi-skilled apprenticeship programme is giving me an insight into trades that I wouldn’t normally get a chance to experience. So far I’ve learned some new carpentry skills and look forward to gaining more experiences over the coming weeks."

The apprentices are part of NPT Homes’ apprentice programme which has been designed to upskill workers who have already gained a level 1 or 2 qualification in a craft trade or who have equivalent experience in the construction industry. The multi-trade qualification will include skills in carpentry, plastering, bricklaying, plumbing, painting, roofing and labouring work.

Andrew Collins, Operations Manager of Contract Services Group said:
"Training and providing opportunities is paramount to us here at Contract Services and it is something we pay continuous attention to. Therefore we are pleased to be able to assist NPT Homes in providing their apprentices with site based experience whilst working alongside our own trades and apprentices.

During their time with us we will place them with a wide range of trades including carpentry, plastering, ceramic tiling, mechanical and electrical therefore giving them plenty of experience of all activities on a busy construction project."

The extensive refurbishment of Tŷ Gnoll Newydd is biggest remodelling programme carried out at any of NPT Homes’ Haven Housing schemes. The work will see the existing 30 bedsits converted into one bedroom flats, with new kitchens, wet rooms and heating systems. The refurbishment programme is due to be completed in summer 2017.