Building for the future

ALL hands on deck . . . (from left) Graham McKendrick (National Apprenticeship Service), James Southall and Anil Duggal (Willmott Dixon management trainees), Mark McGuiness (Balfour Beatty apprentice) and Malcolm Robertson (Balfour Beatty project manager) at the North Chadderton School site

Industry moving with the times

THE construction industry has always played a key role in producing the workforce of the future, with apprenticeships now able to follow career paths from bricklaying to management roles.

Three construction companies making Oldham a better place to live and learn can vouch for the success of their own apprenticeship schemes.

Now, they are backing the 100 in 100 Apprenticeships campaign, which is encouraging businesses to create one or more apprenticeships.

The final aim is for 100 new apprenticeships to be created in 100 days which in turn will help kickstart Oldham’s economic recovery and give people the chance to gain valuable skills, work experience and qualifications.

Balfour Beatty Apprenticeships were launched in 2010.

Apprentices can work in a range of sectors including construction, ICT, and facilities management, while gaining relevant NVQs, Key Skills and Technical Certificates.

Malcolm Robertson, from Balfour Beatty, started his career as a carpentry apprentice straight from school before joining the company and working his way up.

He is now project manager in charge of building Oldham’s new Roman Catholic secondary school and refurbishing North Chadderton School.

Mr Robertson said: “As an organisation, Balfour Beatty is committed to supporting young people through apprenticeships.

“They spend six months working on one site before moving to another to learn different skills and continue their training.

“On-site training and experience is very hard to come by and our apprentices welcome the opportunity, especially in the current climate.

“Apprenticeships are all part of the long-term sustainability for the community.

“Being an apprentice is a chance to gain valuable experience and transferable skills. It also shows employers that you have the commitment, stability and willingness to work.

“I would urge local businesses to look into apprenticeships further.”

Mark McGuiness (23) is in his last year of a five-year apprenticeship with Balfour Beatty.

He said: “It definitely gives you more hands-on experience and plenty of scope to progress.

“When I started the apprenticeship, it was quite hard to be recognised as a professional but now all the big companies are advertising for day-release apprentices.”

Willmott Dixon, who are contracted to build Oldham’s three new academies, currently employ 100 apprentices and invest £500,000 annually in apprentice training every year.

A spokeswoman for the company said: “We plan to double the number of apprentices we employ by 2012. Our skills investment in 2011 will provide 57,600 hours of free training for young people within the communities we work in.

“This is part of our philosophy of supporting trade learning in the wider industry and at the same time ensuring excellent standards of apprenticeships for all individuals.”

Describing the 100 in 100 Apprenticeships campaign as “excellent”, she added: “Oldham companies should go for it because if they don’t, they will be missing out on opportunities to secure first-rate local talent.

“These individuals will be the driving force behind the future local economy.”

Wates, part of the Inspiral Consortium involved in the £130million Gateways to Oldham project, has recently taken on six apprentices in Oldham and has over 100 nationally.

Business Unit Director Steve Jackson said: “We have a role to play in investing in the future skilled workforce of the construction industry.

“This is vital to ensure the sustainability of the industry and key skills within it.

“The campaign is a great initiative to encourage businesses to invest in the future of the working world. Successful, sustainable communities need people in work and apprenticeships are the building blocks to recovering our economy.”

Graham McKendrick, from the National Apprenticeship Service, said: “The construction industry is moving with the times.

“While there is still the opportunity to get traditional skills, they are being applied to new agendas such as sustainable technologies.”

To sign up to 100 in 100 Apprenticeships, call the apprenticeship hotline on 0800-032 7288.