Mulalley Apprentices fitted a new kitchen at Laindon Community Centre, Essex as part of a modernisation programme. Mulalley fitted the brightly lit and modern kitchen as part of its commitment as the sole contractor on Basildon Borough Council’s internal Decent Homes Programme which delivers £28 million improvement works to half its housing stock.

Nathan Bligh, a Prospects College student and current Mulalley apprentice was given the task to project manage this particular job, under the supervision of Mulalley Site Manager and Apprentice Mentor, Andrew Barley. Nathan said: “It’s a fitting way to ensure local residents, their families and friends all benefit from the decent homes work carried out throughout the Borough. We hope the new facilities encourage more people to use the community centre in the future.”

Works of this nature are perfect to build the experience and knowledge of Mulalley’s apprentices. At Prospects College the students are studying a Level 2 qualification in Construction Maintenance Operations. Apprentices are taught Carpentry, Bricklaying, Decorating, Plumbing, Tiling, Plastering, Block paving, Paving and Rendering. All these skills are put to use over a 2 year apprenticeship, with Mulalley placing students with different trades each month to enhance and refine their skill set.

Ricky Bowers and Dominic Niyazi are two other apprentices who worked on the job. Ricky said: “We have probably worked on about 1,000 kitchens and bathrooms in the 10 months we have been Mulalley apprentices. The experience of working on site and learning the hand-skills necessary to complete work to a high standard means we will have a better chance of gaining full-time work at the end of our apprenticeship.”

Mulalley Operations Director Bruce Benson said: “We are always glad to give something back to the communities in which we work and this was such a worthwhile cause. Our apprentices worked hard and achieved a very high standard of work.”