Construction apprentices set solid foundation for careers

Totty ISG site manager, Geoff Moon
(L) and apprentice, Jack Walton

The LSC is helping to build the future careers of apprentices at Calderdale’s Construction Skills Academy by funding a scheme which allows them to take part in a unique shadowing project, to get a behind-the-scenes insight into the renovation of a local primary school in need of modernisation and refurbishment.

The initiative, run by Calderdale Council Building Services and Bradford-based construction and property development company, Totty ISG, has given the apprentices a valuable opportunity to gain first-hand experience. They have been able to see what is involved in the construction project to extend and modernise the Victorian-era buildings at Scout Road Primary School in Mytholmroyd, Halifax.

By shadowing the work being undertaken at Scout Road Primary School, the apprentices have gained an understanding of the broader skills and project management requirements of construction work. Activities have included learning how to plan projects, interviewing ‘the customer’ (the school’s headteacher Mary Barry) to find out about the practical needs of the school buildings and undertaking site visits to make sure that the project runs on schedule.

Calderdale College's Construction Skills Academy is run in partnership with Ryburn Valley High School, Todmorden High School, Calder High School and Sowerby Bridge High School. 20 apprentices are enrolled on the Academy’s two-year construction course that qualifies learners to the equivalent of four GCSEs, and has attracted students from backgrounds currently under-represented in the construction industry, including female and ethnic minority students.

(L-R) Daniel Richardson, pupil at Ryburn Valley
High School, Geoff Moon, site manager at Totty
ISG, Joe Flatley, also from Ryburn Valley High
School and Jack Walton from Sowerby Bridge
High School

Dale Gravenor, construction skills academy manager at Calderdale College, said: “Having worked with the apprentices throughout this project, they shared a great deal of positive feedback. Many of the learners said they didn’t realise the extent of work that is carried out prior to any building work commencing but taking part in the project has encouraged them to look into a career as a construction professional, as well as the more traditional trade routes.”

Mike Lowe, director of area for the LSC in West Yorkshire, said: “The increasing popularity of Apprenticeships among employers and individuals shows that on-the-job training is a valuable way of getting better skilled – both in offering practical, first-hand work experience, and also to gain a recognised qualification that can be a springboard to future career success.”

Nearly 4000 Apprenticeships were completed in West Yorkshire last year, which is 21% more than the previous year.

As well as a good path to helping individuals become better skilled and more employable, Apprenticeships are also hugely beneficial to a business’ overall performance. Research recently undertaken by the LSC showed that 83% of employers rely on their Apprenticeship programmes to provide the skilled workers they need for the future. Two-thirds said their Apprenticeship programme helps them fill vacancies more quickly, while 88% believe Apprenticeships lead to a more motivated and satisfied workforce.

For further information visit the Apprenticeship website http://www.apprenticeships.org.uk/