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Skills The construction industry is strong in London; however, a widening skills and labour gap has created a shortage of people available to fill the jobs. WORKING IN PARTNERSHIP TO DELIVER RECRUITMENT AND SKILLS SOLUTIONS TO THE FIT OUT SECTOR T he YouthBuild (YB) project in Thamesmead delivers a holistic construction skills based course for 18 to 29-year-olds who are not in education or employment. It aims to equip them with the skills and mindsets to succeed in the workplace. Julius Debrah (pictured) moved from Ghana to the UK when he was 14 years old to join the rest of his family who had already settled in well and were working for the NHS. Julius spoke very little English but was well supported by his school, who provided him with access to a number of opportunities to culturally orientate himself. Julius attended Bexley Business Academy and decided to stay on for sixth form. However, when he came to leave school, as with many of his friends, he found it difficult Catherine Bullough, FIS Skills and Training Coordinator Julius Debrah Berkley Homes/MPG project at Chelsea Creek, London 8 www.thefis.org