National Apprenticeship Week: Fusion21; WSP; Redrow Homes; Kier

MERSEYSIDE-headquartered social enterprise Fusion21 is trumpeting is funding of 144 apprenticeships since 2014 in National Apprenticeship Week.

The organisation says it has delivered £268,665 in social value, while helping young people learn a life-long trade.

Fusion21 says it has been helping to tackle the skills shortage in the construction industry, by funding a variety of apprenticeships in professions including joinery, bricklaying, plastering, painting and electrics.

The initiatives provide young people with the chance to build a career by learning new skills and qualifications – which often lead to securing sustainable employment opportunities.

Eighteen-year old George Buckley from Halewood in Liverpool has excelled in a bricklaying apprenticeship, thanks to support and funding received from Fusion21.

After nearly two years of hands-on work experience and studying at The City of Liverpool College, George is nearing the end of the scheme and is on track to receive a National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) level 2.

George’s apprenticeship has enabled him to mix the technical skills he has learnt in the classroom, with on-the-job experience gained from working for home builder and urban regeneration partner, Countryside.

George said: “I didn’t really enjoy school – I wanted to be out in the fresh air, earning money and learning skills I could turn into a career. That’s why an apprenticeship was the best option for me. My uncle has had a fantastic career as a bricklayer, and he inspired me to follow the same path.

“I love what I’m doing and the independence it has given me – throughout my apprenticeship I’ve spent at least four days a week gaining practical experience on different construction sites throughout the North West – in addition to doing my college coursework.

“I’ve worked really hard to develop my skills – and achieved third place in the SkillBuild Regional Heat Competition 2015, in the bricklaying category. SkillBuild is the largest multi-trade competition in the country, so it was a great indication of the progress I was making.”
 
George’s apprenticeship has seen him undertake his CSCS (Construction Skills Certification Scheme) training needed to start work on a construction site, and has even taken him overseas – with a trip to Finland in his first year.
 
He said: “During the trip we visited several construction sites, to see how Finnish construction methods compared to ours – it was a really valuable experience, and fascinating to learn about how the country approaches building during the winter months, when temperatures regularly drop below freezing.”
 
With his career prospects going from strength to strength, the teenager is already thinking about his next steps, and plans to add to his qualifications by completing an NVQ Level 3 Diploma in Brickwork.
“This apprenticeship has been a fantastic stepping stone for me,” adds George – “each day is a fresh challenge – and I can confidently work on my own without supervision.

“I definitely want a career in a bricklaying role, and I’m really grateful to Fusion21 and its partners for the support I’ve been given. I’d recommend an apprenticeship, and I can’t wait to see what the future holds.”

Ian McDonough, community regeneration manager at Fusion21, said: “George has really applied himself during his apprenticeship – and we’re really proud of what he has achieved.

“Apprenticeships can change lives – and it’s really important that these opportunities exist to develop new talent in the construction sector and other industries.”

Meanwhile WSP | Parsons Brinckerhoff in Manchester has put two of its apprentices in the spotlight during the week.

Aidan Allinson is an 18 year-old who works in its building structures team, and is studying for his Level 3 BTEC Diploma in Civil Engineering one day a week at Salford College.

Aidan moved from Hartlepool to Manchester at the age of 16 having secured his place on the company’s apprenticeship programme. He has recently been awarded an ICE QUEST Technician Scholarship by the Institution of Civil Engineers; a sign of excellence which gives industry recognition for his abilities and future potential.
 
Nineteen-year-old Alex Paterson works in WSP’s rail team and is studying for his Level 3 BTEC Diploma in Engineering one day a week at Trafford College.

Alex is one of a raft of new rail engineers taken on by the company as part of its drive to address the deficit of high quality rail engineers working in the region, ahead of major North-West rail improvements planned in the near future.

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HOMEBUILDER Redrow has pledged to take on a record 100 trade apprentices this year as it continues to grow its business, including 10 across the Lancashire division.

To coincide with National Apprenticeship Week (March 14-18) Redrow is launching its annual apprentice recruitment drive.
 
Representatives from the national housebuilder will be visiting schools and colleges up and down the country to talk to young people about the value of trade apprenticeships as a route into successful careers in construction.
 
Karen Jones, HR director for Redrow, said: “We’re building more homes every year, which means we’re able to offer more young people a training role on our building sites, where they will be mentored by experienced professionals and can earn while they work towards an NVQ qualification.

“Apprenticeships are a great way to learn new skills that will last a lifetime – skills that are in high demand in our industry. As we look to address the shortfall in the number of new homes being built, we must endeavour to create a skilled workforce to sustain the rate of construction that is needed.
 
“Apprenticeships play a vital role in that the trainees of today are the site managers and contractors of tomorrow.”

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KIER has launched its construction technician apprenticeship, a new qualification being offered by the company to train the next generation of technical professionals in Greater Manchester and the North West.

The programme is designed to instil the broad range of construction skills needed to develop careers in technical professions including site engineering, quantity surveying, estimating, buying, planning and H&S and many more.

Building on the success of the Kier Construction Team Leader Apprenticeship, the construction technician apprenticeship combines training in communication and decision making alongside construction, and culminates in a highly transferable qualification with employment and further education opportunities for the best candidates.

The new model being used to deliver the construction technician apprenticeship will offer increased flexibility, with participants able to start at any time of year rather than as part of a fixed cohort, enabling Kier to respond quickly to the resourcing needs of new contracts.

There are currently 11 apprentices who have been enrolled on a pilot and in addition to learning the practical skills needed for a career in construction, they will come together one day a week to study, collaborate and share best practice.

Their study day will be held on a Kier project rather than at college, enhancing their access to construction activities. The other four days will be spent gaining practical on-site experience and detailed technical knowledge, including engineering maths and setting-out, to give them a good foundation and breadth of skills across the board.  Kier is also currently looking at how the programme could be expanded.

The apprenticeship framework, comprising of two 18-month stages includes a Level 2 Award in Construction Operations followed by a Level 3 Construction Technical – Contracting Operations qualification. For the most promising candidates this can be followed by the option of further permanent employment with Kier and a place on one of its two degree courses in either Construction Management or Quantity Surveying. These are both bespoke 4.5 year programmes resulting in BSc Honours degrees.

Kier spokesperson Nicola Gotzheim, head of learning and development said: “We know that a lack of training and development of young people during the last recession led to serious shortages in both the professional and the skilled workforce.

“The construction technician apprenticeship places real value on vocational training, offering apprentices invaluable on the job learning combined with the qualifications and confidence to allow them to progress with their chosen technical profession.

“For us, we attract a diverse range of enthusiastic young people to our business and benefit from their bright minds and drive to succeed.  The response to the apprenticeship both from those on the scheme, and from their parents and careers advisors, has been very positive and we are looking into how we could expand the provision of the programme going forward.”