National Apprenticeship Week runs from 4 to 8 March and this year the theme will be Blaze a trail – Fire It Up, showcasing how apprentices bring new energy and passion into any businesses. Yorkshire Housing will celebrate the success of their apprenticeship programme by showcasing apprenticeships as a pathway to a
The best-of-class in south-west Scotland’s construction sector are set to be honoured in the area’s first-ever awards focused on those actively excelling at upskilling their workforce. Contractors on projects for hub South West – the partnership dedicated to community infrastructure projects in Lanarkshire, Ayrshire and Dumfries & Galloway –
Curtis Hope has been selected to receive an award run jointly by The Sheffield College and repairs, maintenance and compliance business Horbury Property Services, part of the Horbury Group based in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, for ‘Apprentice of the Term’. Curtis, who is aged 17 and from Doncaster, has been with
David Kenkinson has been appointed by the British housebuilder Persimmon as the company’s new Chief Executive (CEO). He has been serving as the group’s interim CEO since late last year and now he will take over the role with immediate effect. “Persimmon is a great company with a bright future and
Level 3 Construction students at Cambridge Regional College (CRC) have been offered an opportunity to gain valuable work experience with a major local employer. Willmott Dixon, one of the UK’s largest construction companies with a regional office in Cambridge, spent the day at CRC interviewing students on a Construction Management
Tim Beale has been promoted to the position of Chief Executive Officer by housebuilder Keepmoat Homes, after previously serving as Deputy Chief Executive since February 2018. He joined the firm in 2007 as Chief Operating Officer. He succeeds James Thomson, who stepped down as Chief Executive following seven years in the
A Westcountry homebuilder has welcomed its highest number of apprentices to date as part of the firm’s commitment to nurturing up-and-coming talent in the construction industry. “Apprentices are the future of the industry and we believe we should be doing everything we can to encourage young people to consider job-based
A new sustainability director has been appointed by global architecture and design firm Perkins+Will in London. Joining the Lodon office is Asif Din who will lead strategic initiatives for sustainable building across the firm’s practice areas, including urban design, architecture, hospitality, and workplace design. He comes to the company with
Multidisciplinary main contractor, Winvic Construction Ltd, announced its partnership with the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) yesterday, to offer graduates a training programme in order to gain the specialist skills, knowledge and professional approach required to practice as a civil engineer. The ICE Training Scheme forms part of an employee’s
City of Bristol College students and apprentices aged 16 to 18 will benefit from support from Dickies, as the two announce their partnership. With a focus on employability and personal development, the partnership will help those preparing for a career in a range of vocational and technical trades and profession
National Apprenticeship Week runs from 4 to 8 March and this year the theme will be Blaze a trail – Fire It Up, showcasing how apprentices bring new energy and passion into any businesses. Yorkshire Housing will celebrate the success of their apprenticeship programme by showcasing apprenticeships as a pathway to a great career. A great example of the passion apprentices can bring to a business is Hannah Harrison who works the reception at Yorkshire Housing, she made a short film about her experiences for National Apprentice Week. Hannah started as an apprentice in 2016 with Yorkshire Housing. By her own admission was quite shy, so her team suggested that working on reception could boost her confidence and help with her personal development. With help and support Hannah started on reception and quickly began dealing with a wide range of people in person, which really helped her to develop her confidence. After Hannah’s apprenticeship ended, she got the receptionists job at Yorkshire Housing permanently. Hannah Harrison said: “I was really glad to start my apprenticeship at Yorkshire Housing, it really helped my personal development I love working with Yorkshire Housing, it’s such a family environment and I’d recommend anyone to get an apprenticeship with Yorkshire Housing.” As part of the National Apprentice Week Yorkshire Housing apprentices will be taking part in a wide range of activities. Our apprentices will be going back to their old schools to talk about their experiences and recruit potential apprentices of the future. Muhammad Uddin will also be representing Yorkshire Housing at Parliament at a specially organised National Apprentice event. Our apprentices will also be taking part at the Leeds Apprenticeship Recruitment Fair in the First Direct Arena on Monday 4 March. Since opening its doors to its first apprentice in 2007, Yorkshire Housing has seen over 100 apprentices working with us, with over 70 percent securing fulltime positions. This year, a variety of opportunities including construction-based roles in building services, gas and electric as well as office-based jobs, will be available. Apprentices can gain a fully funded nationally recognised qualification as well as real work experience in teams across Yorkshire. Senior people development coordinator Kiran Olak said: “Yorkshire Housing’s apprenticeship programme has seen apprentices develop, grow and progress within their chosen career, providing a pipeline of skills and talent to meet current and future business needs. As a top 100 apprenticeship employer our apprentices are proud to work for us and we’re passionate in supporting the success of our apprentices.” If you or someone you know is looking for an opportunity to shine, point them in the direction of Yorkshire Housing’s apprenticeship scheme where they can grow their skills, gain a professional qualification, earn above the national minimum wage and build a firm foundation for the start of a new and exciting career. Applications will be accepted between 18 March and 29 April. You can find out more on our apprenticeship pages.
The best-of-class in south-west Scotland’s construction sector are set to be honoured in the area’s first-ever awards focused on those actively excelling at upskilling their workforce. Contractors on projects for hub South West – the partnership dedicated to community infrastructure projects in Lanarkshire, Ayrshire and Dumfries & Galloway – will discover who is leading the way in training and recruitment at a ceremony taking place on May 16 at the Dalziel Park Hotel in Motherwell. The awards will commend local companies for their commitment to inspiring the next generation of professionals within the industry, as well as those firms committed to nurturing staff already working in the sector. The South West Skills & Training Awards will be divided into two categories: Best Training Culture and Best Employment Initiative for Young People. In each category, there will be a winner for firms employing more than 25 people, and those with staffing of 25 or less. All entries must be directly linked to a hub South West project, meaning that any entry must be directly connected to an initiative contracted by the partnership. Finalists will be expected to give a short presentation on their company’s initiative on the day to a small panel of representatives from CITB and Skills Development Scotland. Tier-1 contractors are encouraged to nominate sub-contractors from their supply chains. The deadline for entries is March 29. For more information and to enter these awards visit https://hubsouthwestscotland.co.uk/skillsacademy/skills-training-awards-2019. Michael McBrearty, chief executive of hub South West, said the awards mark an important new phase in the partnership’s commitment to raising the bar within the industry. “The skills shortages we have within this sector have been widely-reported and are well-known,” he said. “In addition to supporting the project’s commitment to engaging local communities, the small and larger firms involved with hub South West also strive to do their part in tackling wider skills issues across the industry. It is only fitting that we should applaud their efforts.” Entries are limited to one per company. Those for the category of Best Employment Initiative for Young People will be judged on the criteria of youth employment, the introduction of construction as a viable career path, structured framework apprenticeships, graduate programmes and initiatives targeted at women, the disadvantaged and the disabled. Best Training Culture will examine ideas and programmes that have proven successful, with a learning platform that encourages training and staff development that underpins the overall development of the business. The hub South West partnership was established in 2012 to deliver value for money on public sector community-based infrastructure projects to generate growth in local economies across Lanarkshire, Ayrshire and Dumfries & Galloway. Since then, it has successfully completed projects with a total value of more than £380m.
Curtis Hope has been selected to receive an award run jointly by The Sheffield College and repairs, maintenance and compliance business Horbury Property Services, part of the Horbury Group based in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, for ‘Apprentice of the Term’. Curtis, who is aged 17 and from Doncaster, has been with the company since August 2018 studying for a Construction Building – Wood Occupations (Joinery) Level 2 qualification, which he should complete in September 2020. He has been selected from over 60 Apprentices at Horbury Group to receive the accolade as Tyrone Hoyland, Head of Academy (Construction) at The Sheffield College explains: “Curtis has excellent attendance and timekeeping. He often works through his breaks and tries very hard in both practical and theory sessions. Nothing is ever too much effort for him. He is a great role model for any learner.” For his achievement in winning the accolade, Curtis has received a £100 gift voucher and a certificate. Noel Taylor, Training and Development Lead at Horbury Group, said: “We would like to congratulate Curtis on his award. He has proven that he has a great attitude to both work and college and is a valued member of the team.” Horbury Property Services provides a full range of services, including inspection, installation, repair and maintenance of fire doors, joinery works, fire stopping, sealing, fire compartmentation, fire alarm and emergency light testing, portable appliance testing, electrical testing and installation work, building fabric repairs as well as external cladding and render repairs. Horbury Group provides construction solutions to developers, building owners and main contractors. Within the group there are eight individual companies, each with specialist knowledge and experience, including external facades, drylining partitioning, joinery, suspended ceilings, SFS, full fit outs, refurbishment and maintenance, demountable glazed screens, decoration, structural fire protection and external wall insulation. The company prides itself on the ability to carry out multi-trade fit outs, using its own staff and skilled tradespeople to ensure the very best quality service. The Horbury Group has a turnover of more than £75m and employs around 1,000 people, with its headquarters in South Yorkshire and regional offices in London and South Wales. For more details, visit www.horburygroup.com or call 01709 515044.
David Kenkinson has been appointed by the British housebuilder Persimmon as the company’s new Chief Executive (CEO). He has been serving as the group’s interim CEO since late last year and now he will take over the role with immediate effect. “Persimmon is a great company with a bright future and I am honoured to have been asked to lead it. My priorities will be to maintain the strong operational and financial momentum of the business, to develop further our customer care operations and to bring a greater focus to our wider responsibilities as a leading UK house builder. We have a strong and committed team and I look forward to continuing to work with all my colleagues to deliver the high quality, attractively priced homes that the UK needs,” commented David Jenkinson on his appointment. For over 22 years David has been part of the company, assuming roles like Group Managing Director and serving on Persimmon’s board for over five years. Over this time he has held particular responsibility for land purchase. “After a thorough search, both within the housebuilding sector and more widely, it was clear to the Board that Dave was the best candidate for the role. Since his appointment as interim CEO last year Dave has shown both strong leadership in maintaining the Company’s track record of operational excellence but also that he is listening carefully to the views of all our stakeholders. Persimmon remains committed to its goal of being the leading volume builder of good value, traditional family homes throughout the UK,” said Roger Devlin, Persimmon’s Chairman.
Level 3 Construction students at Cambridge Regional College (CRC) have been offered an opportunity to gain valuable work experience with a major local employer. Willmott Dixon, one of the UK’s largest construction companies with a regional office in Cambridge, spent the day at CRC interviewing students on a Construction Management course in preparation for them taking part in the company’s work experience programme. The ten students made such a good impression during interview that they have all been offered a place on the programme. Natalie Sidey, Wilmott Dixons Regional community engagement officer, said “We were really impressed by the attitude of the students and how engaged they are in their course. They said it was the best decision to enrol at the college and spoke really positively about the course, expressing very clear ideas about what roles they wanted to pursue in Construction, Site Management, Surveying and Design in particular.” Phillip Grimshaw, Lecturer in Design & Construction at the College, was clearly delighted for his students, saying “Employer engagement is very important and the students really value this kind of exercise. Willmott Dixon staged a series of interviews with our learners giving them the opportunity to gain vital experience and help prepare them for the work environment”. Cambridge Regional College has some of the best construction facilities in the region with professionally-qualified and experienced tutors. Past students have gone on to study architectural technology, project management, quantity surveying and building surveying at universities including Anglia Ruskin University, Westminster, Plymouth and Leeds. Students can also go straight into work in the busy construction sector or choose to become an apprentice, for instance on a civil engineering apprenticeship.
Tim Beale has been promoted to the position of Chief Executive Officer by housebuilder Keepmoat Homes, after previously serving as Deputy Chief Executive since February 2018. He joined the firm in 2007 as Chief Operating Officer. He succeeds James Thomson, who stepped down as Chief Executive following seven years in the role but remains on the board as a non-executive director. “After seven years with the Keepmoat Homes I have taken the decision to step down as Chief Executive. I will remain involved with the business on the board as a non-executive director and am delighted that Tim will be stepping up as the Chief Executive Officer. I am fully confident that under Tim’s leadership the business will continue to go from strength to strength,” said Mr Thomson. Speaking of his appointment Mr Beale said: “I’m pleased to be taking over the role of Chief Executive Officer at Keepmoat Homes and thank James and the Board Members for this opportunity. Over the last 12 months I’ve worked closely with James and the wider management team to ensure we are consistently delivering quality new homes in the places where people need them. “Over the next year we are focusing on our operations and plan to deliver over 4,000 new homes utilising both traditional and modular construction to help meet the country’s housing needs. We will also start on site on a number of transformational projects such as Sighthill in Glasgow, Ebbsfleet in Kent and the Waterside in Leicester. These developments are long term commitments to the regeneration of key UK cities and towns which embrace their heritage but build for their future – building communities and transforming lives,” he added.
A Westcountry homebuilder has welcomed its highest number of apprentices to date as part of the firm’s commitment to nurturing up-and-coming talent in the construction industry. “Apprentices are the future of the industry and we believe we should be doing everything we can to encourage young people to consider job-based training as a sound start to their careers,” commented Cavanna Homes’ Managing Director, Keith Miller. “We’re major supporters of apprentices and help subcontractors by funding apprentices so they can pass on their knowledge, which in turn helps us to be confident that the skills we’ll need in the future for housebuilding will be available locally.” Ten apprentices aged between 16 and 23 years of age have joined Cavanna Homes as paid full-time apprentices, the largest intake in the homebuilder’s 95-year history. Aaron Jones, Jesse Acutt, Matt Churchill, Max Dorothy, Jack Walker, Sam Perkins, Joe Darlow, Cameron Quinn, Lewis Duce and Owen Musk are based at Cavanna Homes’ head office in Torquay gaining experience both on-site and in the office. The apprentices will be completing qualifications in a range of specialist sectors including; carpentry, land, technical, commercial, build, electrical, painting and decorating, and plastering. “I am forever grateful to Cavanna Homes for providing me with such an amazing opportunity. They support me day in and day out, which has fuelled my drive even more. I’m surrounded by considerate colleagues who I now call friends and I can honestly say that there is no looking back, only looking forward. My one regret is not signing up to an apprenticeship scheme sooner – it’s the best decision I have ever made and I’m truly lucky,” said Sam Perkins, Land Apprentice at Cavanna Homes. The apprenticeships will be completed over four years which, depending on the scheme, will combine on-site work experience with skilled sub-contractors and attendance at college to gain an NVQ. “We’re increasing the number of apprentices that we support year on year, and we hope to see this number continue to grow in 2019. We strongly believe that providing open career paths within the construction industry will encourage young adults to explore the opportunities available to them,” Keith added. As a regional recruiter, Cavanna Homes takes pride in nurturing and investing in its apprentices to ensure they receive the best skills and experience in their trades to pass onto the next generation, and integral part of Cavanna Homes’ ethos.
A new sustainability director has been appointed by global architecture and design firm Perkins+Will in London. Joining the Lodon office is Asif Din who will lead strategic initiatives for sustainable building across the firm’s practice areas, including urban design, architecture, hospitality, and workplace design. He comes to the company with over 20 years of experience working on a number of PassivHaus and Zero Energy Developments. “As a practising architect and environmental expert, Asif joins Perkins+Will at a time of growing global demand for leadership in sustainable design that looks at the entire lifecycle of a building. We are excited for our sustainability initiatives to have a strong director at their helm. Asif is perfect for the newly created Sustainability Director position, and I look forward to working with him to create designs that are economically and environmentally resilient, built to last, and focus on the occupants’ experience,” said Steven Charlton, managing director of Perkins+Will’s London studio. Asif Din also commented on his appointment: “It is imperative that the architecture profession takes a proactive, not reactive, approach to tackling the realities of climate change through building design. I’m excited to join Perkins+Will to explore the range of sustainability opportunities in the London office, while also engaging with the firm’s breadth of research and expertise at a global level.” This appointment supports the recent announcement by the Mayor of London to make the capital a zero-carbon city and at least 50 per cent green by 2050.
Multidisciplinary main contractor, Winvic Construction Ltd, announced its partnership with the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) yesterday, to offer graduates a training programme in order to gain the specialist skills, knowledge and professional approach required to practice as a civil engineer. The ICE Training Scheme forms part of an employee’s 12 month initial professional development period, which bridges the gap between education and professional qualifications. The structured training will be delivered in-house by Winvic and this leads to sitting the EngTech (MICE) Professional Review as a stepping stone to onward progression to IEng or CEng status. The diverse and thorough framework is tailored in relation to the individual’s previous, and often very recent, education route, specialist discipline and desired future professional qualification. The Scheme’s content is overseen by ICE, ensuring quality and methods, in order to maintain the highest standards. Tim Reeve, Winvic Technical Director, commented: “We have always taken the personal and professional development of our employees very seriously but with a significant increase in staff over the last few years we felt it was time to offer even more support. Our 93 percent staff retention rate indicates that the individuals who join our team after completing an Undergraduate or Master’s Degree are with us for a long time to come; it’s the people that make our business thrive and we owe it to them to help them be the best they can be.” Winvic will provide each trainee with a supervising civil engineer (SCE) and a delegated engineer (DE who will be experienced ICE Members; their roles will be to support and mentor, helping the individual to become multi-skilled, possess good technical, communication, commercial, people and legal knowledge, and understand the implications of their work across these areas. HR and Training Manager at Winvic, Rebecca Schwarz, added: “We are thrilled that ICE – such an important body within the global construction industry – sees our commitment for developing our employees, and that we have been chosen as a training partner. Educational qualifications contribute hugely in giving people the required competencies, but some things just can’t be taught in the classroom, as our year in industry students so often tell us. Winvic’s new ICE Training Scheme will help to create the next wave of innovative, first-class engineers that also share Winvic’s esteemed values.” Cath Mansell, Membership Manager, Mid England said, “It is great for ICE to see new companies implementing the ICE Training Scheme. I know that Winvic have been working hard with Ray Hulse, ICE Membership Development Officer, to get this off the ground and it shows an impressive focus on the professional development of their staff.” For more information about joining Winvic, please visit our Careers page, or contact the HR Department. Vacancies can also be found on LinkedIn and Twitter pages.
City of Bristol College students and apprentices aged 16 to 18 will benefit from support from Dickies, as the two announce their partnership. With a focus on employability and personal development, the partnership will help those preparing for a career in a range of vocational and technical trades and profession with extended opportunities for learning. “We’re excited to be working with City of Bristol College as part of our commitment to instil pride in the next generation of tradespeople. Workwear can play a big part in feeling confident and ready to do a good job, but we know that’s just one aspect to starting a career on the right note. By supporting colleges like this to motivate and encourage students and apprentices, we hope we can make a difference to the careers of future tradespeople,” commented James Whitaker, Marketing Director for Dickies. The global workwear brand will also deliver talks by inspirational speakers and mentors and sponsorship of the College’s Student Awards, as well as provide items of specialist clothing and student induction packs to help students and apprentices with their studies and development. “A skilled, knowledgeable and motivated workforce is an essential ingredient for building a strong and sustainable economy. Our students were delighted with their Dickies induction packs containing essential items to help them make good progress in their studies and career development,” said Emma Jarman, Vice Principal – Curriculum and Quality. “Our partnership with Dickies will enable us to continue developing rich and stimulating learning experiences of our students and apprentices through co-design and co-delivery of our curriculum and engagement with current and highly respected industry practitioners,” Emma added.
