Kerry builder in London sets up office to help emigrants find jobs
THERE are now so many cash strapped Kerry emigrants flooding into London seeking building work that a Kerry born contractor has set up his own office to help them in their search for work.
Kells native Danny Tim O'Sullivan, one of London's most successful building contractors has set up a dedicated office to help Kerry and Irish migrants who are arriving in London seeking work in the construction industry.
At present emigrants from Ireland seeking work in London or elsewhere in England must have a range of certificates and official documents before they can commence work on a site. The process which can often take up to six weeks during which time they are not legally allowed work.
Among the documents needed are a Construction Skills Certificate (CSC) similar to the Fás Safe Pass cert used in Ireland, a UK insurance number, a bank account, a unique tax reference, a Personal Track Safety cert and a tunnel skills cert.
Danny Sullivan and Sons have now opened up their own office with dedicated staff to help newly arrived Irish emigrants get these documents faster and so find a job much sooner.
The company says it will be able to help new migrants in England get all the necessary documentation within days of arrival. Danny Sullivan and Sons can provide the construction skills cert themselves and will assist with the collection and preparation of all other necessary documents.
Mr O'Sullivan told The Kerryman that he was prompted to set up the service when he saw the difficulties faced by new migrants who were seeking work with his own firm.
"There's a lot of young people coming over here with their mouths open and they don't know what to expect or do. There's college graduates coming over looking for work and they're spending three or four weeks doing nothing while they get the certs and they can't afford that," he said.
"You can be waiting four or five weeks for an appointment for the CSC and a few more weeks waiting for the actual form. We can provide them here ourselves," he said.
"We're trying to accommodate people as best we can and find them work. There's still work enough around the place and at least this way If I don't have jobs they'll have the certs and can get a job quickly from someone else," he said.
Anyone seeking further information of assistance should contact Eibhlin Flynn at Danny Sullivan and Sons 020 8961 1900 or email evelyn@dannysullivan.co.uk.
- SIMON BROUDER sbrouder@kerryman.ie
