A new film starring a former plumbing apprentice was recently launched by the National Apprenticeship Service to encourage more young people to take up apprenticeships in the construction sector.
The film features four young people working in different roles across the sector, recounting their experiences and talking about how an Apprenticeship has benefited them.
Scott Gregory, 23, who completed an Intermediate Apprenticeship in Plumbing and Heating in 2009 and now works for Century Plumbing, joins three other rising stars from construction firms BE Ames, Costain and Morgan Sindall.
Employers - led by CITB, the Industry Training Board and Sector Skills Council for construction - are being encouraged to promote the film across the sector and to young people. The film will also be used by the National Apprenticeship Service in resource packs for schools and at careers events up and down the country.
Gregory said: “My Apprenticeship has given me the best of both worlds: the opportunity to earn while I learn and achieve a well-respected qualification, whilst gaining valuable, hands-on experience. There are many different types of jobs in the construction sector, for all sorts of people from all sorts of background. I would definitely encourage more young people to think about doing an Apprenticeship.”
The three other stars of the film are:
CITB employer services director Mike Bialyj remarked: “Apprenticeships offer a wonderful opportunity for young people to take their first step towards a rewarding career. At the same time, they offer employers a chance to build a skilled workforce that is the perfect fit for their business. By providing opportunities for young people from a range of backgrounds to enter jobs in the construction sector, employers are helping to train the next generation with the skills needed to help safeguard the future of the sector.”
David Way, chief executive of the National Apprenticeship Service, said: “Whether you’re interested in the planning stages of building a house or the many trades involved, there are a wide range of Apprenticeships on offer. Skilled staff are always in demand in this sector, and many job opportunities are set to be created over the next few years, so there has never been a better time to think about an Apprenticeship in the construction sector. We hope young people will see the film and be inspired to explore what an Apprenticeship could do for them.”
The film is the fourth in a series of ‘sector in the spotlight’ films being created by the National Apprenticeship Service.
Apprenticeships cover more than 250 skills and industries across 1,400 job roles, over an extensive range of skill levels. An Apprenticeship in the construction sector can cover a broad range of roles, including construction building, civil engineering, building energy management systems, construction supervision and management, electrical servicing, surveying and plumbing and heating. Practical skills are important in this sector, as many roles require physical work.
Government funding is available to help companies take on an apprentice. Through the Apprenticeship Grant for Employers (AGE) of 16- to 24-year-olds, businesses which choose to grow through Apprenticeships can access funding of £1,500. The grant is open to organisations employing up to 1,000 people, which have never employed an apprentice before or have not recruited one in the past 12 months.
