A major new building project for older people in Gwynedd has given 12 north Wales apprentices valuable experience of the building industry, with 92 per cent of the workforce also living in the region.

Grwp Cynefin housing association’s £7.8 million Hafod y Gest development in Porthmadog has recently opened, allowing older people from the area to benefit from a new independent lifestyle facility in a safe community environment with flexible care services available.

Hafod y Gest is a partnership development between Gwynedd Council and Grwp Cynefin developed by Anwyl Construction. It is located in the heart of the town and community of Porthmadog, and close to the shops and facilities. The development consists of 26 two-bedroom apartments and 14 one-bedroom apartments and boasts communal areas, including a dining room, lounges, gardens and activity rooms.

Eighty five per cent of the workforce who worked on the development project lived within a 30-mile radius, in north west Wales with seven of the apprentices also travelling within the same locality.

In addition, 93 per cent of the goods, services and overheads of the Hafod y Gest contract was spent with small and medium sized businesses in Wales.

As main contractor, Anwyl Construction set a targeted recruitment approach within Gwynedd and north Wales and appointed a strong supply chain, purchasing goods and recruiting trainees as locally as possible.

Some of the training opportunities included trades such as scaffolding, technical and design, joinery, bricklaying, mechanical and electrical, plumbing, cladding, logistics and dry wall fixing apprenticeships.

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