A 20-year-old construction trainee has been selected to travel to the United States to speak at a conference about youth unemployment.

Marcus Anderson of Walthamstow worked in a call centre and a fast food restaurant while at college but hit a brick wall when he found himself without a job and lacking family support earlier this year.

He decided to sign up for the 16-week traineeship programme at Building Hope Academy in Catford run by children’s charity Barnardo’s and construction firm Saint-Gobain.

And it didn’t take long for Marcus to impress his teachers who nominated him to represent the company at the Global Opportunity Youth Initiative in Philadelphia on December 2.

“I was shocked when I heard that I had been selected,” said Marcus.

“I couldn’t believe it. It made me so happy. It was such a surprise - I never thought I would be able to go somewhere like Philadelphia.

“The chance to talk about my experiences of being unemployed with other young people who have faced the same thing as me is so important. I’m really looking forward to the trip.”

The programme caters for care leavers aged 16 to 25 and offers lessons in maths and English, work placements, construction training and a City & Guilds Level 2 Award in dry lining.

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Phillip Mills, children’s services manager at Building Hope Academy, said Marcus is a “model student” 

There is an urgent need across the construction industry in east London for dry lining - the skill of putting up plasterboard walls.

The Academy trains young people coming out of foster care as part of Barnardo’s Building Hope project and is supported by Barking and Dagenham College and Phoenix Community Housing.

The Global Opportunity Youth Initiative aims to gather together governments, businesses and leaders from the education, non-profit and youth sectors who share the goal of increasing jobs and livelihoods for young people.

Marcus said: “I’ve always been prepared to work hard. When I was unemployed, I was thinking about how I really wanted to get into the construction industry, but not just in a labouring roll, I wanted to develop a trade.

“Building Hope Academy has changed my life. It’s not just about learning dry lining, the Academy can help with your employability, interview and business skills. You learn health and safety as well. It gets you ready for the world of work.

“I’m so grateful for everything Barnardo’s has given me.”

Marcus plans to become an expert in dry lining and take an apprenticeship after his traineeship finishes in the hope of landing a full-time job.

He added: “I would love to be able to start my own business in a few years’ time - that would be the dream.”

Phillip Mills, children’s services manager at Building Hope Academy, said Marcus is a “model student” who has made everyone at the academy “proud of his hard work”.

Shenaaz Chenia, CEO of YouthBuild UK and director of industry and community training for Saint-Gobain UK and Ireland, called Marcus a “fantastic young man” and said the team has “great hopes” for his career.