Join us - and make the difference | Features

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Since its launch in April 2006 the Construction and Business Services Leadership Group has made a real impact by using the power of our industry to support young people who face barriers in their lives.

In a response to the skills shortage within the industry, the leadership group funds the Get Into Construction programme with The Prince鈥檚 Trust. This programme is making a real difference to deprived communities and to the construction industry, and at the same time it is engaging with the government skills agenda. Already hundreds of young people have participated in Get Into Construction and progressed into employment - turning an inactive generation into a skilled workforce.

The success of this initiative would not have been possible without the innovative partnership between our industry and The Prince鈥檚 Trust, working together to provide opportunities for disadvantaged young people to increase their skills and work in construction and business services.

Each of the individual courses is oversubscribed and with this unprecedented demand, it is the fastest growing Prince鈥檚 Trust programme. In 2008/09, 42 courses are planned across the UK,

Already hundreds of young people have participated in Get Into Construction and progressed into employment 鈥� turning an inactive generation into a skilled workforce

which will help more than 500 young people who are work ready but need the skills and experience to move into the construction industry. These young people are aged between 18 and 25. The barriers they will have faced in their lives include unemployment, being in care or in trouble with the law, struggling at school or a combination of all of these. The programme will enable them to obtain a Construction Skills Certification Scheme card and will train them in various aspects of the industry, including carpentry, plastering, bricklaying and painting and decorating.

In order to continue contributing to the success and growth of the Get Into Construction programme and improve the skills, aspirations and employment potential of hundreds of young people every year, we need the support of more construction and business services industry leaders. Please join us to help build better lives - I know we can make a difference.

Philip Rogerson