New council Re-Making Leeds trainee already hitting heights

A new trainee on an innovative Leeds City Council heritage and construction skills programme funded by £810,300 from the Heritage Lottery Fund is set to pit his wits against the very best in a national competition later this week.

Ameha Shewaye Bantiwered, 38, was selected from the regional heats to take part in the national finals of the Construction Industry Training Board’s Skillbuild Show 2015 at the Birmingham NEC from 19-21 November after impressing the judges with his plastering skills. Featuring as a trainee on the council’s ‘Re-Making Leeds’ scheme, Ameha, will hone his skills through the year under the watchful eye of staff at one of the placement providers, Ornate Interiors. Ameha had 13 years’ experience working in the construction industry in Italy before moving to Leeds where he was earning a living as a pizza delivery driver whilst studying at Leeds College of Building. To make sure Ameha is in peak form at the competition, Ornate Interiors have kindly allowed him to practice and refine his skills for the next two weeks at the Leeds College of Building.

As part of Re-Making Leeds, which is delivered by the council in partnership with the Leeds College of Building and York College, trained professionals are offered the chance to reskill in heritage construction and short training courses to up-skill employees in small and medium enterprises (SMEs). This sits aside the opportunity for young people to feature on the programme and also take part in work-based training including; brick work, carpentry and joinery, stonemasonry, painting and decorating, lime mortar plastering and rendering, wall and floor tiling and specialist lead work.

To find out about training opportunities through Re-Making Leeds, or how to take on a trainee through the scheme, please see: http://www.leeds.gov.uk/residents/Pages/Re-Making-Leeds.aspx

For more details regarding the national finalists in the Skillbuild show, please see: http://www.citb.co.uk/documents/skillbuild/skillbuild_2015_national_finalists_110815.pdf

Councillor Mohammed Rafique, Leeds City Council’s executive member for employment, enterprise and opportunity said:

“We have already seen some very positive results from our Re-Making Leeds Programme, and it is great news that one of our new trainees this year Ameha, is set to feature in the national finals of the Skillbuild Show.

“We certainly wish him all the best in the plastering competition, and look forward to seeing Ameha developing his skills further through Re-Making Leeds by learning from the experts at one of our placement providers, Ornate Interiors.

“Providing access to services for people to find employment and access training remains an absolute priority for the council, and we will be doing everything in our power to ensure through our varied programme they remain available in our communities.”

Notes to editors:

If you are a member of the media and would like to speak to Ameha, or arrange a picture, please contact the Leeds City Council press office.

Employers featuring in this year’s programme include: Leeds City Council’s parks and countryside team, AB Heritage Roofing, Aura Conservation Ltd, Hesp Jones & Co, LCC Restorations Ltd, Ornate Interiors, Ratcliffe Building & Maintenance and Ventrolla.

Heritage Lottery Fund

Thanks to National Lottery players, the Heritage Lottery Fund invests money to help people across the UK explore, enjoy and protect the heritage they care about - from the archaeology under our feet to the historic parks and buildings we love, from precious memories and collections to rare wildlife. www.hlf.org.uk @heritagelottery @HLFYandH

For media enquiries, please contact;

Colin Dickinson, Leeds City Council press office (0113) 39 51578

Email: colin.dickinson@leeds.gov.uk