Unemployed Black Country residents are being given a chance to work on a multi-million pound building project. Building firm William Davis Ltd, in partnership with Dudley Council, will provide on-site training.

They will do so at the £18 million project at Sedgley’s Beacon Centre for the Blind. The agreement with Future Skills Dudley, part of the Regeneration Division of Dudley Council, has enabled two bricklayers and a labourer to be recruited on the redevelopment project at the centre.

There will also be places for an electrician and a plumber due to be employed shortly.

The strategy is designed to provide opportunities for unemployed borough residents to develop core vocational skills including communication, teamwork and motivational skills.

Although William Davis already has a directly employed workforce, it is also committed to reducing unemployment in the area via the scheme with the council.

Production manager William Davis said: “The UK construction industry is crying out for qualified labour in all disciplines of the building trade.”

Some of the Future Skills trainees have already started work at the Beacon Centre and will be closely supervised by site managers Ron Henson and Brian Quinn.

Beacon Centre for the Blind is being transformed into a modern centre for the care of blind people in the region. The development is scheduled to be finished by summer 2009.

The centre is a local charity providing services to 3000 visually impaired people in Wolverhampton, Dudley, Sandwell and South Staffordshire.

The centre’s services include residential accommodation, a day centre and talking newspapers.