DIYWEEK.net

Travis Perkins has donated brand new toolboxes with £100 worth of tools to Building Lives, a community project and social enterprise.
The Building Lives Star Apprentices, Ben Hicks, Peteris Silins and Julien Muhammed, were awarded with their toolboxes and certificates at the end of September for their hard work and commitment to each of their Academies.

Travis Perkins also donated thousands of pounds worth of discounted tools to the new Building Lives Tower Hamlets Academy, and last year, the builders' merchant donated £2.2m to UK charities.

Regional director of Travis Perkins, Steve Baldwin, said: "We are proud to be sponsoring Building Lives, a fantastic organisation that is supporting local people into construction apprenticeships. These apprentices are the future of our industry, so it's great to be able to help them start their careers by providing them with high quality toolkits. We will also be supporting the academy further by providing discounted tool for the apprentices."

When the Star Apprentice scheme was launched last month, nominations came in thick and fast, with last month's winners coming from the Hackney, Camden and Sutton projects.

Ben Hicks, the Sutton Star Apprentice, was long term unemployed before joining Building Lives. He was originally in the building business, but lost his job after an injury and then struggled to get back into employment until he joined Building Lives. Ben was full of smiles all day and he said he felt 'really proud' and was really 'grateful' for the new tools that will definitely come in handy.

Building Lives Star Apprentice nominations are now open again until October 25. Visit www.buildinglives.uk.com for more information.