GRAHAM’s CRE8 pre-employment programme, designed to create sustainable job opportunities for disadvantaged local individuals, has been successfully delivered at the construction site of Pilgrim Hospital’s new Emergency Department in Lincolnshire.
What is CRE8?
CRE8 aims to tackle local unemployment and underemployment by attracting new talent to the construction industry. A crucial aspect of the programme is the involvement of local recruitment and employability service partners, who take responsibility for their areas of expertise.
This includes:
- Recruiting suitable candidates
- Providing pre-employment training
- Matching candidates with host employers
- Delivering CSCS-accredited site-based work experience
- Offering sustainable local employment opportunities
- Providing ongoing career advice
This wraparound approach makes CRE8 a pioneering initiative in the construction industry.
CRE8 delegates gain hands-on healthcare construction experience
In collaboration with United Lincolnshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Jobs 22, and Building Careers UK, two delegates recently completed the latest CRE8 programme, gaining valuable work experience on site at GRAHAM’s new Emergency Department project at Pilgrim Hospital.
GRAHAM, Marshwell Fire Doors, Manstal and Ryland Decorators hosted the delegates on site, offering each a five-day work placement. Throughout the week, they gained insights into the various roles and their significance to the project.
CRE8 placements yield job opportunities
The CRE8 placements not only provided delegates with practical construction experience including electrical, plumbing, decoration and traffic marshall activities, but also allowed them to develop specific knowledge related to building healthcare facilities.
The delegates have now enrolled with Building Careers UK, which will assist them in finding suitable, sustainable local construction employment opportunities.
Owen Reynolds, CRE8 delegate, said:
"CRE8 gave me hands-on experience, and even in the coldest week, I loved supporting the traffic marshall and banksman activities. I'd recommend this programme to anyone curious about construction - it's an immersive experience I haven’t seen offered anywhere else and the GRAHAM mentors, Simon Gollins and Thomas Stoney, were fantastic."
Reflecting on CRE8’s success
United Lincolnshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust’s Deputy Director of Estates and Facilities, Chris Davies, said:
“As a Trust we are proud to be involved in the CRE8 programme. Being able to offer training placements on the site for local people, while we transform the Emergency Department, is a great way for us to be able to support them into the construction industry. We would like to thank everyone for making this possible and wish all of the delegates the very best in their future careers.”
Darren Leather, Project Manager at GRAHAM, said:
“This initiative has not only equipped the delegates with practical skills and industry knowledge but has hopefully empowered them to pursue long-term careers in construction. We’re proud to have worked with the Trust and our CRE8 partners to deliver such a meaningful programme that fosters growth, inclusivity, and sustainable development.”
Project overview: Pilgrim Hospital’s new Emergency Department
GRAHAM is currently building a £40m two-story new-build extension that will see the new emergency department more than treble in size and include state-of-the-art innovations and infection prevention control measures.
The new building will feature additional cubicles for patient treatment and a larger resuscitation zone for the most critical patients. It will also include a dedicated area for emergency care specifically for children and their families.
A calm space, separate from the main department, will be available where trained staff can provide mental health support to patients.
To enhance the Emergency Department’s capabilities, the building will house a new X-ray and CT scanner for essential diagnostics. Additionally, there will be more training spaces to support staff development.
