National Apprenticeship Week: Barratt Developments; Altrad NSG; HMG Paints

HOUSEBUILDER Barratt Developments is urging young people in the North West to consider a career in construction, to mark National Apprenticeship Week.
 
The housebuilder is set to build around 1,400 new homes in the North West region during 2016, including several hundred in Greater Manchester, but says that a shortage of specialist trades people, presents an on-going challenge.

Barratt, which includes David Wilson Homes North West and Barratt Manchester, says it’s on the lookout for future talent, with new applications welcome for apprentices starting in September 2016.
 
Unlike many other vocational or university courses, places are government-funded, and are available at locations across the North West. Sites currently under construction include The Vistas, Heywood, Highgate Park, Preston, Stapeley Gardens, Nantwich and Claremont Gardens, Kirkdale.

The shortage of housing has driven up rents and house prices in recent years, and according to the latest report from The Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICs), housebuilding is running at around half the level needed to meet demand.  

Barratt’s apprentices undertake a two year NVQ course combining on the job training with college work, offering opportunities to gain industry qualifications in carpentry, bricklaying and joinery.  

For those who choose a career in construction, the rewards are often much higher than people think, says Barratt Homes Construction Director, John McNulty, who himself started as a Trainee Assistant Site Manager with Barratt in 1978, said: “As well as receiving outstanding training and recognised qualifications at no expense to themselves, our apprentices are paid a wage from day one, which rises as you progress through the course.

“In an age where most students leave college with tens of thousands of pounds worth of tuition fee debts, and often go on to encounter a shortage of jobs in the marketplace, we think our Apprenticeship programme offers a very exciting opportunity.”
     
According to the Adzuna jobs website. construction workers are among those experiencing the biggest growth in earnings, with an average salary of £38,159. Some bricklayers are thought to be commanding more than £200 a day.

In 2016, Barratt plans to recruit a further 180 into its ‘Future Talent’ Programmes, of which 100 will be apprentices. By September 2016, the housebuilder will have around 450 apprentices and trainees on a programme, which represents 7.5% of the direct workforce.

Nationally, the housebuilder has recruited a total of 780 graduates, undergraduates, apprentices and trainees in the past three years, of which 480 were apprentices – more than any other housebuilder in Britain.

Mr McNulty added: “Our focus moving forward is to ensure our apprentices enter the industry as highly qualified tradespeople or trainee site managers in order to address the current skills shortage.

“We have plans to roll out a toolkit for teachers,which includes activities linked to the curriculum to run over the course of a term, to encourage young people into the industry. This is an exciting time for new talent to enter the industry, offering excellent long term career prospects and higher than average salaries.”
   
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SCAFFOLDING supplier Altrad NSG has hired two local apprentices to work on the Mersey Gateway Project.
 
David McNamara, 22, and Paul Humphries, 20, both from Runcorn, have joined the scaffolding and industrial services specialist on a 20-month apprenticeship scheme.
 
The Deeside-based subcontractor is supplying all of the scaffolding and access required for the construction of Halton’s new cable-stayed bridge and the associated 9.2km road network.
 
New recruits David, from Halton Brook, and Paul from Grangemoor, are supporting Altrad NSG’s experienced scaffolding gangs, which are erecting scaffolding right across the project for the bridge piers, pylons and elevated approach roads.
 
David, who is based on site at Ditton in Widnes, said: “I’ve worked with Altrad NSG as a labourer since I left school and I’m keen to progress in the trade. When I asked about opportunities I was encouraged to apply for the apprenticeship. I’m enjoying it a lot; it’s like working with big Lego. I’m learning so much from working on site and the lads are really supportive.”
 
Paul has joined the scaffolding gang working on the moveable scaffolding system. He said: “I applied for the apprenticeship because I want to learn a trade. I’m enjoying finding out what all of the scaffolding equipment is and how it works. The Mersey Gateway Project is one of the biggest things going on and it’s right next to home so it’s great to be working on it.”
 
The pair will be learning on-the-job alongside senior scaffolders while working towards an NVQ Level 2 in Scaffolding.
 
Their apprenticeship is a practical work-based programme that teaches the basics of the scaffolding trade. It covers workplace safety, erecting and dismantling all types of scaffolding structures, building methods and construction technologies.
 
Mike Carr, managing director at Altrad NSG, said: “We are very pleased to once again create employment opportunities by way of Apprenticeships. Altrad NSG has employed Apprentices across its businesses for many years and this has proved to be beneficial to the company as a whole, especially as we have an extremely high rate of skill retention once training is complete.  
 
“The labour market place has been very challenging due to skills shortages and the utilisation of apprenticeships is one solution to this problem.   We have worked closely with our training providers (Training 2000 and Simian) to ensure our Apprentices are trained to a high level in a supportive environment.  
 
“Altrad NSG is an equal opportunities employer and we are also keen to develop people from the local community. I am delighted to see local apprentices starting with the company and I wish David and Paul the best of luck for the future and welcome them on board.”

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NINE apprentices from HMG Paints, the UK’s largest independent paints manufacturer, are painting a bright future for themselves with the family firm after completing their apprenticeships and becoming full time members of staff.

“HMG has always been committed to the professional development of our employees and we are proud of the apprentices for completing their course and are looking forward to seeing their careers develop at HMG.” said Steve Crossman, Business Development Director, who started at HMG as an 18-year-old apprentice.

The nine apprentice’s roles cover a whole variety of business areas, from business administration, research and development to product manufacturing. 

Two of the apprentices, Tyrone Fox and Joe DiBartolo even shared a stage at the British Coatings Federation national conference alongside Rt Hon Jack Straw MP on the importance of apprenticeships within the coatings industry.

“I found my apprenticeship at HMG Paints incredibly valuable, and have loved my time working within the company,” said Shannon Williams who completed a Business and Administration apprenticeship and also won the companies 2015 Employee of the Year award. “This apprenticeship gave me the opportunity to learn new skills, gain business experience and forge a career for myself in this industry.”

One of the keys to the apprentice’s success was the internal mentoring of the youngsters, who worked alongside senior mentors on a daily basis as they developed their coatings knowledge.

“It may seem obvious, but the future of our business is with the young people who we are developing and training from a young age alongside our experienced members of staff,” said John Falder, HMG Paints managing director.

The company has already taken on a further three apprentices and are actively looking to recruit a further six in the coming months.