Youngsters are being given support into the world of work as part of community initiatives being undertaken by contractor J Tomlinson in Sutton.

The company is carrying out investment work worth more than £30m to Ashfield District Council’s housing stock in a five-year programme for Ashfield Homes Ltd.
Its staff are taking part in local projects to support students as they prepare to leave school and start their careers.

The most recent involved providing interviewers for a mock interview day for year 10 pupils at Sutton Academy.

J Tomlinson head of bids Steve Timmins (pictured)and HR administrator Lucinder Dulay, as well as Carol Atherton, from sub-contractor Avonside Roofing, joined employers and business representatives at the work related learning course run by the academy for 14 and 15-year-olds.

The academy’s work related learning co-ordinator, Penny Runnalls, said: “To make our mock interviews as realistic as possible, we ask members of the local community to act as interviewers.”

J Tomlinson is hosting two students on a two-week work experience placement in July, having organised a realistic application process that involved students submitting a CV and undergoing an interview process with J Tomlinson operations manager Ian West.

The Nottingham-based contractor is also committed to providing job opportunities to young people in the Sutton area, and is due to take on 12 apprentices as part of the improvement work, which includes replacement kitchens, bathrooms, central heating systems, electrical installations, roof coverings, windows and external doors.

Mr West said: “J Tomlinson is committed to supporting the younger generation into work in whichever route they choose.

“We understand the importance of providing realistic experiences and giving young people the chance to develop skills that will help them as they leave school and move into the world of work.

“We’re very much a part of the community in Ashfield — undertaking the work that we are completing in thousands of homes and employing many local people — and we are pleased to be getting involved in initiatives with Sutton Academy and other learning establishments across Ashfield.”

Mr West gave a careers talk about construction at the local Jobcentre and J Tomlinson has taken part in Ashfield social eating project Let’s All Eat.