A pioneering project to provide vital skills for young people interested in a career in construction is proving a success.

Links2, part of the Council's Invest in Bradford scheme, has joined youth employment and training body Connexions to provide week-long taster sessions for teenagers in plumbing, plastering and bricklaying.

Since the launch at the beginning of this month, around 40 people between 16 and 19, not in education, employment or training, have gained skills which could mean jobs in construction or further training.

Links2 principal officer Nicky McAlpine said: "Connexions came to us and said they would like to put on these courses. I did a lot of research to find courses where young people could learn a lot in a short time."

Courses supervised by fully-qualified tutors are now running in Baildon and Thornton.

Nicky added: "The plastering course will teach young people how to plaster a room, the plumbing course will allow participants to plumb in a bathroom and the brick-laying course how to build a small extension."

Youngsters referred by Connexions can choose any taster session.

On completing a course, participants are awarded accreditation by the industry-recognised Construction Skills Certification Scheme.

Project co-ordinator Beth Greiner, of Connexions, said: "We are working with young people who need a little bit more support than normal and some of those people expressed an interest in the construction industry. There is not enough training out there. The courses are opening the floodgates for a lot of young people.

"Once they have completed the course the Connexions to Work programme will help them move into training, education or employment.

"The feedback we are getting so far is that the courses are fantastic. We have seen an increase in confidence and life skills among the young people taking part which is very important."

Another 40 people are set to take part throughout April thanks to funding from the European Social Fund - fees are around £340 each.

Mrs Greiner added: "We can afford to fund 40 young people a month until July."

Links2 was established in 2004 to encourage developers to invest in Bradford and tap into the district's talented workforce.

The Connexions to Work programme is keen to hear from construction or plumbing firms interested in helping run future courses.

Contact beth.greiner@connexionswestyorkshire. co. uk for more details.