Sika Limited, global provider of construction solutions, has supported a new initiative to help provide apprenticeships for young people in Lambeth. The company has donated 1,500 hi-vis vests to the scheme, as well as provided free of charge materials to help complete the regeneration of Stockwell Community Centre.
Ivo Schaedler, General Manager of Sika Limited, comments: “We are very proud to be able to support this innovative new programme that will not only help young people gain valuable skills, but will also help to restore empty properties across the Lambeth borough over the next two years. It is a fantastic initiative and one which we encourage other members of the construction industry to support too.”
Build-it is a multi-partner programme led by London Youth, creating a platform for intergenerational skills sharing between young people and older tradespeople, working together to refurbish empty properties in Lambeth to be used for social housing.
The relationship between Sika and Build-it first came about when George Clarke, from Channel 4’s Restoration Man and Build-it Programme Ambassador, tweeted a request for companies to help provide PPE for the 1,500 young people involved in the programme. Sika came to the rescue with hi-vis vests for the whole team.
In addition to the hi-vis vests, Sika also supplied a number of products from its distribution range which have been used to help complete the refurbishment of Stockwell Community Centre. The company manufactures an entire range of building products with the capability of waterproofing, sealing, or protecting everything from the basement to the roof. And Sika is currently looking to provide further support in the way of product donations as the apprentices embark on their regeneration of abandoned homes.
Sika joins the existing programme partners, who are London Borough of Lambeth, Lambeth College, specialist partnership brokers Cospa and charity London Youth. Over £1.7m of funding for Build-it has been generously provided by the Big Lottery Fund.
Rosie Ferguson, Chief Executive of London Youth who co-created Build-it with Cospa says:
“Build-it is a really exciting project which helps support young people by giving them real skills and opportunities, while at the same time meeting the community need to renovate empty homes. We’re delighted to have support from Sika and our other project partners to make Build-it a success.”
For further information about Build-it visit www.londonyouth.org / www.build-itlambeth.org or for details on Sika’s complete range of products visit www.sika.co.uk
