sencia Helps Souter Lighthouse Shine
April 10, 2009
A revolutionary Victorian lighthouse on the South Tyneside coast has received a little help from a group of long-term job seekers registered with employability business sencia, to keep the weeds, rather than the waves, at bay.
Souter Lighthouse, now owned by the National Trust, was the first to use alternating electric current. This was the most advanced lighthouse technology of its day, generating an astonishing 800,000 candle power light. sencia’s New Deal team from Souter and The Leas worked under the guidance of the National Trust to improve the front gardens of the lighthouse.
Janette Russon, Business Manager, sencia in South Shields, explains: “Souter Lighthouse and the Leas are supported by one of sencia’s work experience placement projects. It provides an opportunity for people who have been out of work for some time to gain real ‘hands-on’ experience, learning new or refreshing existing skills.
“The work that we do at Souter Lighthouse supports clients gaining up to date skills to compete within the workplace, and in some instances, working towards their Construction Skills Certification Scheme card – a must have for anyone working in the construction sector. The project provides access to numerous trades, including painting, joinery and gardening.”
Nick Dolan, Property Manager, National Trust, says: “The team from sencia did a fantastic job making ready the lighthouse gardens for the thousands of visitors that we receive at Souter each year.”
Works undertaken by the New Deal team in the gardens included careful laying of the new gravel surface ready for planting. The gardens are open to the public from 14th March 2009.
