FORMER soldiers could soon be helping to build new homes in the city thanks to a new scheme.

Major housebuilder Hyde Housing has teamed up with The Royal British Legion to create new job opportunities for armed forces’ leavers.

The partnership with the legion’s employability service, Civvy Street, will see ex-military given the chance to become crane operators, banksmen, signallers or forklift drivers on building sites.

The first recruits are now being sought to help with Hyde’s latest construction project to build 65 homes and space for businesses at New Wave in Hove.

The project will have 33 one, two and three-bedroom apartments, costing from £305,00 to £450,000, and six three-bedroom townhouses priced at £575,000 built on the corner of Goldstone Lane and Newtown Road.

The housing scheme launched at the start of the month with potential homeowners asked to register an interest.

An open morning to discuss positions available to ex-armed forces service personnel will take place on Thursday between 10am and noon at The Royal British Legion in Queen’s Road.

The new partnership will provide training, work experience and full-time employment opportunities from Hyde’s construction supply chain.

Tom Shaw, Hyde development director (South), said: “Military leavers possess valuable transferable skills in leadership, teamwork and project management, in addition to strong technical skills gained during their service.

“The construction industry in Brighton and Hove is facing a serious skills shortage.

“This partnership with Civvy Street will help to plug that gap along with Hyde’s other initiatives to employ local labour and our established relationships with local colleges to provide apprenticeships.”

Steve Cripps, of PMC Construction, Hyde’s construction partner at New Wave, said: “This partnership provides genuine opportunities for ex-forces personnel to get training, work experience and to use their previous skills and knowledge to forge a new career in construction. We have immediate opportunities available on site at New Wave in Hove.

“Full support, including potential to gain professional qualifications in related trades, is available and we look forward to enabling recruits to fulfil their potential.”

Mike Harrison, from Civvy Street, said: “We hope that as many service leavers or ex-service personnel benefit from this partnership and build a successful career, reaching their full potential in civilian life.

“We are delighted that Hyde has been so proactive in working with Civvy Street and in recognising the valuable skills that armed forces leavers bring to business.”