Career rebuild: Kodi lands dream job on UK’s biggest heritage restoration project after Liverpool City Region Skills Bootcamp

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• Rebooted career with Liverpool trainer Nobody Left Behind
• Building course funded by Mayor Rotheram’s Combined Authority
• Enthusiasm and drive impressed Liverpool building firm Clan
• First job at landmark restoration of Manchester Town Hall

An inspirational woman who kickstarted her career with a Liverpool City Region Skills Bootcamp has landed a job on one of the biggest restoration projects in Europe.

Kodi Benson was recruited by Liverpool building firm Clan shortly after completing a construction skills course funded by Mayor Steve Rotheram’s Combined Authority.

The 32-year-old, who has wanted a building career since leaving school, left a care job to finally realise her dream and now works on the scheme to restore Manchester Town Hall.

Kodi said:

“I have always wanted to do this job but I got swayed into other avenues. I met the director of Clan on a skills bootcamp and absolutely loved what he was talking about – working on and restoring heritage buildings. When they interviewed me and offered me the job I was absolutely over the moon – that was on the Thursday and I started work in Manchester on the Monday.

“I don’t feel like I will work another day in my life because I love what I do. To anyone looking for advice on how to change your career I would just say go for it – don’t even be put off thinking it’s a male industry – it isn’t – there just haven’t been enough women that have broken down the doors yet. Everyone is welcome as long as you are willing to work.”

Kodi embarked on her new career by studying a Skills Bootcamp with the Liverpool community interest company Nobody Left Behind.

The Combined Authority-funded Gateways to Construction and Principles of Fenestration provided an introduction to the trade, including a suite of health and safety qualifications.

She is currently working as part of the Clan team working on the Our Town Hall project restoring dozens of fireplaces and windows in the Victorian council headquarters.

Kodi Benson inside Manchester Town Hall

Ben Brownless, Quantity Surveyor at Clan, said:

“Kodi is an amazing example of how to change your career by determination and hard work. She has got amazing enthusiasm and energy and is such as positive person – since she started there has been a real uplift in morale among the team.”

Paul Walmsley Mentor Lead at Nobody Left Behind, said:

“Kodi’s positivity impressed us all at Nobody Left Behind from day one so it’s come as no surprise to us that she has found her feet so quickly at Clan.

“Skills Bootcamp funding is providing the platform for people to kick on and consider new opportunities – that perhaps five or six years ago were not available here – and we are proud to be helping upskill people from across the city region.”

Skills Bootcamps are free, flexible courses of up to 16 weeks, giving people the opportunity to boost their skill levels in a key area or gain more responsibilities in their current role.

Liverpool City Region Combined Authority offers Skills Bootcamps across the following sectors: Digital, Engineering and Manufacturing, Construction, Green Skills, Rail, HGV driving, Health & Social Care, Visitor Economy, Creative Industries, Leadership & Management and Professional Services.

Anyone interested in undertaking the training or training organisations in delivering a Skills Bootcamps should visit https://lcrbemore.co.uk/skillsbootcamps/ for more information.