The partnership building the £121 million Armed Forces training college at the MoD in Lyneham is helping disabled people find employment.

Hercules, a 50:50 partnership between Kier Group and Balfour Beatty, has employed social enterprise SEQOL to help disabled people to secure jobs during the 18-month building project.

SEQOL works to gain full-time employment for, on average, 50 people a year who might otherwise encounter barriers to employment due to learning or mental disabilities.

Roger Frost, Hercules project director, said: “We are delighted that SEQOL will be working for us while we are building a new armed forces training facility for the Defence Infrastructure Organisation.

“We see local employability as a key component to fulfilling the contract and it is part of our mission to add value, not only through our expertise but to the local communities where we work.”

The new college will accommodate more than 1,100 trainees and 800 staff.

At its peak Hercules will have an estimated 900 construction workers on site, which has led to a series of catering staff appointments.

Up to 10 catering staff will be placed via SEQOL, offering a rare opportunity for disabled people to work in the industry, with the number expected to rise as the project progresses.

SEQOL previously provided basic home-cooked food meals on wheels for elderly residents and sees this as a good opportunity to raise its profile and services to get wider professional catering contracts.

Anne King, supported employment project manager for SEQOL Supported Employment, said: “This is a unique opportunity for a local social enterprise to work with some leading players in the construction world.

“We highly value their support. Balfour Beatty and Kier’s values around training and developing people have been reflected through our work with them.”

The project is due for completion next September.