ANTHONY RICE, from Aberbargoed, has successfully found employment at the Chartist Garden Village development in Pontllanfraith thanks to a partnership between Caerphilly County Borough Council, housing provider Pobl Group and property developer Lovell.

Chartist Garden Village is an exciting collaboration which will result in an attractive development on the former Pontllanfraith House council offices site, which will comprise of two thirds affordable housing. 

The development will follow the ‘garden village’ concept, with timeless arts and crafts style homes, designed to enhanced space standards, built around a landscape of street trees, grass verges and open green spaces.

The Council’s Employment Support team has been working closely with Pobl and Lovell to identify opportunities to help their participants find employment through the development. 

Anthony was supported by the team to achieve his CSCS card and Banksman certificate, which then qualified him to apply for the role of Gates person with Lovell. 

The Employment Support team then assisted Anthony throughout the recruitment process, which resulted in him being successfully appointed to the position.

The support provided by the team also enabled Anthony to start his employment sooner than anticipated.  Anthony said “I enjoy it here and it’s been nice to meet new people. I really appreciate the help I’ve been given by everyone.’

Cllr Jamie Pritchard, the Council’s Deputy Leader, commented “I’d like to congratulate Anthony and wish him the best of luck in his new role.  This is an excellent example of Team Caerphilly in action; with the investment into the flagship Chartist Garden Village development being used as a catalyst to deliver wider benefits within the local community.”

Ellis Cunliffe, Project Manager at Pobl Group said “We’re delighted that Anthony has been supported to gain these qualifications and has now been successfully appointed to this role.  This is a great example of the many and varied benefits that developing new homes can bring to the local community and we wish him every success in his new career.”