Scarborough Construction Skills Village chief up for prestigious Yorkshire award

He has been shortlisted in the Small and Medium Enterprise category in the first-ever digital-only presentation of the event, which takes place on Wednesday November 4.

The Scarborough Construction Skills Village (CSV) is run by Northern Regeneration MD and founder Graham Ratcliffe.

His innovative skills village model teaches real skills in a real environment - brick-laying, joinery, groundwork and general construction maintenance skills to accredited standards.

CSV also upskills adults who want to learn new skills or who want to gain extra qualifications in construction.

Mr Ratcliffe said: "I am very pleased to be an IoD finalist on behalf of all the apprentices, trainers and assessors and our partners.

"We started with three staff and have tripled that number, seeking to fill the serious regional and local gap in skills.

"We are also creating a social housing company, SoHoCo Scarborough Ltd to build low-carbon housing on small sites and using local contractors and suppliers.

"These homes would be built with a circular economy approach and accelerate the delivery of more affordable homes needed locally by 2030 for rent or sale."

The company's vision for 2020 includes the current relocation to bigger premises off the A64 at High Eastfield farm, a mile from the old site at Middle Deepdale, and with the support of Scarborough Borough Council.

Since September 2019, the skills village has created 52 apprenticeships, taking the total to 171, and its commercial plant and construction site health and safety division has reached 375 construction qualifications through novice training or upskilling since September 2018.

An IoD spokesperson said: "This year will go down as a year of unprecedented challenge and change, with directors drawing on all of their talents and resilience to support staff, collaborate and innovate.

"After much discussion and due consideration of the current situation, it has been agreed that the Director of the Year Awards 2020 ceremony will be delivered as a virtual event."

A message from the editor

Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

In order for us to continue to provide high quality and trusted local news on this free-to-read site, I am asking you to also please purchase a copy of our newspaper.

Our journalists are highly trained and our content is independently regulated by IPSO to some of the highest standards in the world.

The dramatic events of 2020 are having a major impact on many of our local valued advertisers and consequently the advertising that we receive.

We are now more reliant than ever on you helping us to provide you with news by buying a copy of our newspaper.

Thank you

Jean MacQuarrie, Editor-in-Chief