Amidst the industrial hum of Mitcham's Eagle Trading Estate, a quiet revolution is unfolding. Inside a custom-built workshop, a community interest company is offering asylum seekers and refugees a vital lifeline, swapping the depressing confines of temporary hotel accommodation for the purpose and promise of practical skills.
From Hotel Rooms to Construction Tools
The initiative, called Construction and Engineering Opportunities (CEO), was founded by Viviene Bish Bedeau, a plumbing and heating engineer with four decades of experience. Her vision is to create employment pathways for young people and marginalised groups through hands-on training. For participants like Mansour, an Iranian national living in a Croydon hotel for just over a month, the contrast is stark. "Being in the hotel is just depressing," he said. "Being here is so much better."
CEO runs sessions supported by Croydon Council's RAISE programme (Refugees and Asylum Seekers Integration and Empowerment). During a recent visit, participants including Mansour, Saiied, and David were diligently working towards earning their CSCS cards – a crucial certification that proves essential health and safety training and is often a minimum requirement for site work. "The idea is to give them skills that make them more employable and get them involved," Viviene explained.
Building More Than Just Qualifications
The programme's impact extends far beyond the workshop walls. For many, it is a crucial social hub. "It's more than just a workshop," Viviene emphasised. "It's a hub, it takes you out of your four walls." After practical sessions, where Viviene closely supervises tasks from fixing leaks to safe tool use, the group shares lunch. This time for bonding over tea and pastries combats the intense isolation of hotel life. Saiied, another Iranian participant, noted, "It's hard to make friends there, but here we have the same target."
Language is no barrier to participation, with Farsi and French commonly spoken, though Viviene encourages English learning for qualification purposes. Learners also gain real-world confidence through supervised paid work; Mansour recently completed a job for a neighbour, receiving praise for his excellent customer service.
A Vision for Inclusive Industry and Future Growth
Viviene's personal journey deeply informs CEO's ethos. "If you want to say anything about how hard it can be, look at me," she said. "I am female, black and in construction." She believes representation is key, and the organisation's female leadership team, including colleague Jo, helps attract people who might not otherwise consider the industry.
This inclusive approach also underpins CEO's youth programmes, like Constructioneers for teenagers. Sessions are hands-on and adaptable, catering to children with special educational needs or those seeking alternative education. "They all deserve that opportunity," Viviene stressed.
Currently reliant on external funding, including from Children in Need, CEO has ambitious plans. An expected move in March from Mitcham to a larger unit in Croydon's Whitgift Centre will place it at the community's heart. The new space will feature enhanced facilities, including a dedicated hot-work zone, and Viviene hopes increased footfall will boost sign-ups for their self-sustaining DIY courses. Recently named Inspirational Woman of the Industry at the Hustle Awards, Viviene is poised to bring her unprecedented model of training to an even wider community.
