Two teenagers have secured jobs in the construction industry thanks to a new partnership between Vistry Group, Britain’s biggest housebuilder and North Kent College.

Frankie Jack, 19, and Heath Lincoln, 18, have landed positions as apprentice bricklayers just two months after Vistry Kent launched the initiative – which helps students on construction-based courses at the college take part in work experience with contractors at its Ashmere site in Ebbsfleet Garden City, then apply for jobs directly.

The partnership was launched in June when a team, led by Tom Mills, area build manager at Vistry Kent, gave a presentation to tutors and students at the Gravesend campus of the college. After the talk, there was a question-and-answer session and a break-out period when students could chat to representatives of key trade contractors at Ashmere.

Frankie and Heath, who have completed a diploma in bricklaying at the college, applied for work experience with Flahive Brickwork and, after a ten-day stint at Ashmere – where Vistry is building new homes under its Countryside Homes brand – were offered jobs.

They’re now working for Flahive Brickwork as apprentice bricklayers on a two-year NVQ course which started in August.

Frankie, who lives in Northfleet, said: “I like working with my hands and bricklaying is what I want to do. It is brilliant to be given this chance through this direct link thanks to Vistry and I will make the most of it. I want to qualify, learn as much as I can, go self-employed and then set up my own team of bricklayers who work for me.”

Heath, from Greenhithe, said: “It was great to finally get out onto a building site after two years at college. It is a new kind of experience and you pick up so much so quickly. It is good to be earning while I am learning and at the end of two years, I will be a fully qualified bricklayer with a recognised skill.”

Tom Mills, who came up with the idea to link up with the college, said: “Under the new partnering agreement, myself and representatives from our contracting teams visited North Kent College to talk about residential new-build construction, offered site visits to students and college lecturers and had one-on-one chats.

“We gave an overview of the Vistry Group and of Ashmere project which is part of the Eastern Quarry scheme within Ebbsfleet Garden City. The session was incredibly well received, and the intention is to have this as an ongoing partnership with more sessions which will provide a direct link between the students at the college and potential employers in the building industry locally.”

Ebbsfleet Garden City is a huge regeneration scheme in North Kent which is set to deliver up to 15,000 new homes, a range of community facilities and acres of green open space. Ebbsfleet Development Corporation (EDC), which was set up by the government to oversee the Ebbsfleet Garden City project, is backing the partnership with the college.

Lara Pool, inclusive growth manager at EDC, said: “We are very happy to facilitate and support this pro-active initiative which helps demonstrate to students at the college that there can be a clear pathway into employment in the local construction industry. The Ebbsfleet Garden City scheme could see construction continuing until 2040 and it would be great to know that, through this link-up, it is helping to provide jobs for young people in the area.”

Rob Pearce, contracts manager at Flahive Brickwork, said: “This new partnership with the college is good for us because it allows us to tap into the pool of talent that exists in the local area. Frankie and Heath are both great additions to our workforce and are proof that this relationship does work and benefits us, the students and the college.”

Brendan Evans, managing director of Vistry Kent, said: “This is an important new partnership which allows young people to come through to work for our supply chain within the industry which, in turn, enables us to deliver more new housing to try to help tackle the housing shortage.

“At Vistry, part of our ethos is not only to build new homes and create new neighbourhoods but also to reach out to the local community. Through this link-up with North Kent College we can connect directly with the students who represent the future of our industry.”

Vistry Kent is a region of Vistry Group, which includes Bovis Homes, Linden Homes and Countryside Homes.

For more information about job opportunities at Vistry visit https://www.vistrycareers.co.uk/.