Plans to launch a landmark apprenticeship bursary have been announced by Kier Construction. The ‘Kick-Start’ Bursary is the first to be offered in the built environment, and will support apprentices who may benefit from additional financial support to enter or continue their journey in the workplace. New and existing apprentices across all of Kier’s business will be able to benefit from this opportunity, as long as they meet the key criteria of a household income of below £17,000. For those that get accepted, the bursary will provide support of £1,000 per year for each apprentice for the duration of their apprenticeship. The announcement comes during National Apprenticeship Week, 04-08 March, which celebrates apprenticeships and the positive impact they have on individuals, businesses and the wider economy. “We’re excited to be the first company in the built environment to launch an apprenticeship bursary. Starting your career and embarking on an apprenticeship should be an exciting time but, our experience has shown us that, for some people, the costs of entering the workplace itself can become a barrier. We wanted to take action that would have a direct benefit at an individual level, hopefully with this bursary we can open up access to our apprenticeships even further,” commented Jan Atkinson, talent and organisational development director at Kier.