A GROUP of ex-service veterans have graduated from a course designed to set them up in a new career in the construction industry after leaving the armed forces.

The nine were the third cohort to graduate from the Building Heroes skills training course at Wiltshire College last Friday (Feb 15) and included the second female graduate, Michelle Craddock.

The course is run by the Building Heroes charity in partnership with the college and provides skills training to all interested military veterans and service leavers.

So far, 26 former armed veterans have graduated from the course and the charity expects to have between 60-70 graduates each academic year.

Phil Ascot, the charity’s recruitment, welfare and progression officer for the Trowbridge centre, said: “Our aim is to tackle unemployment amongst those who have kept us safe by offering them a seamless transition to a new career in construction.

“The charity was set up a few years ago to tackle the fact that there are a large number of unemployed veterans and a lot of vacancies in the construction industry.”

The Chichester-based charity began partnering with colleges three years ago to deliver a free five-week Level 1 Construction Skills qualification to veterans and service leavers.

The course provides a grounding in brickwork, carpentry, tiling, plastering, painting and decorating and plumbing.

Students also achieve a CSCS card needed for working on any construction site and a Level 1 Health and Safety certificate.

Building Heroes also provides work wear such as tops, sweatshirt, trousers and boots, for the training, which the veterans can keep. ]

It aims to support anyone attending the course into employment through its network of national construction companies, self-employment or further training in the industry upon completion.

The first centre was opened at Chichester College in West Sussex around three years ago and the charity now has five centres nationwide, including Essex, Hampshire and Cheshire.

The centre at Wiltshire College in Trowbridge was opened in September and runs the course six times each academic year. It can accommodate 8-12 learners in each cohort.

The mayor of Trowbridge Cllr Dennis Dewitt, and Amanda Peach, a skills advisor from the Swindon & Wiltshire Local Enterprise Partnership, attended the graduation ceremony.

The remaining dates for Wiltshire College courses this academic year are March 4-April 5; April 23-May 24, and June 10 -July 12. To apply go to www.buildingheroes.org.uk.