Investing in the next generation: Together sponsors local students to build their own bungalow

Specialist lender Together has provided a donation of £110k to Reaseheath College, helping to fund students build their own bungalow on-site.

The Cheadle-based company, which provides property loans for individuals and businesses across the UK, is committed to playing its part in developing the future of the construction industry. It will be providing ongoing support to the college, making regular visits to help and guide the students wherever possible.

The donation, which is paid over a five year period, will be used for the supply of materials for the students at Reaseheath to build both a bungalow and an outdoor classroom. The properties will be taken apart and re-built each year. Students will gain valuable experience and the opportunity to develop their skills ready for a career in construction.

In addition, the funds will help enable 100 students each year gain their Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) Card. CSCS is the leading skills certification scheme within the UK construction industry, providing learners with proof they have the appropriate training and skills for their work. Whilst not a legislative requirement, it helps to ensure that standards and safety are upheld on construction sites around the country.

Reaseheath College, in Nantwich, Cheshire, is one of the UK’s leading specialist land-based colleges. It offers a range of full-time diplomas, apprenticeships, T-Levels and degrees to build a career in land-based industries.

The college’s unique construction department is designed to offer students real life work experience on-site. Together will provide the materials for a timber frame bungalow which each year, will be built by the joinery students, and further constructed by the bricklayer students. The joiners will then put on a roof and plasterer students will board and skim internally.

The building will also be reused each year, meaning the one off investment will benefit hundreds of students across several years.

Andrew Gould, Curriculum Area Manager for Construction at Reaseheath College, said: “We are delighted to be working with Together, with their help we are going to be able to support our pupils in becoming ‘employment ready’ and this package of support will go a long way towards enabling us to achieve our goals. This comes at an exciting time for Reaseheath as we are now offering a T Level in Construction and T Levels are very much employer-led technical qualifications.

“So far this year, we have had 30 new learners gain their CSCS Card, with another 16 booked in the coming weeks.”

A donation of £2,500 will also fund an annual award, given to the most improved learner.

Marc Goldberg, CEO of Commercial Finance at Together, said: “At Together we’re continuously looking for ways to broaden our support in the community and make a difference to more lives, especially ambitious young people. That’s why we jumped at the opportunity to partner with a local college, Reaseheath.

“Training the next generation of construction workers is essential to the future of the UK’s property sector, and providing young people with the skills and experience they need is something we are proud to be a part of. Our support will go much further than just the financial investment; we are dedicated to offering our time and expertise to the college, and we are looking at supporting the students into securing future roles in the industry.”

The sponsorship forms part of Together’s wider commitment to ESG, with more charitable work to be announced in the future.