BARRATT Homes is among the first of the large home builders in the UK to commit to a safety scheme for its workforce.

The North-East-based housebuilder is hoping to achieve the Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) for each of its workers.

The scheme underpins a drive to introduce higher awareness and standards of health and safety among construction workers.

About 2,000 employees, 146 of whom are based in the North-East, will be given the training.

Barratt Newcastle's divisional construction director, Tom Proctor, said: "We are committed to continually improving standards on our sites. The CSCS scheme is about driving up standards in construction and reducing accidents and we fully support these principles.

"First of all, we are working towards getting all Barratt operatives and managers CSCS approved, and then we will look at ensuring our sub-contractors follow suit."