Redrow reinstates graduate scheme

HOUSEBUILDER Redrow has taken on six undergraduates on a one-year work placement as part of a reinstatement of its graduate training programme.

The firm said that the scheme was part of a wider policy of improving training to nurture talent – it is also planning to take on 50 apprentices this year.

Richard Beadsmore, training manager for Redrow, said: “An unfortunate knock-on effect of the downturn in the housing market was the lack of opportunities for young people to get a foothold on the career ladder or to learn a trade.

“We’re delighted to be reintroducing our under-graduate trainee programme and one consequence of the shortage of work placements generally is that we had a talented pool of people to choose from this year.”

These included people like Cara Henderson, studying commercial management and quantity surveying at the University of Central Lancashire, in Preston, who says the 95% of her classmates have gone straight back to university to carry on with their studies.

Henderson, 23, is now learning about procurement, contractual arrangements and materials estimation in Redrow’s commercial department, near Chester.

“Taking a year out during my course is strongly encouraged by the university but finding companies to take students on was a real struggle this year.”

Meanwhile, Simon Hohenberg (right) said that he applied to about 50 different companies for a placement but found most businesses had been laying staff off.

The 20 year-old, who is studying for a BSc Honours degree in planning and property development at Nottingham Trent University, said: “Fortunately my university was aware of the Redrow scheme and it definitely offered the best opportunity.”