With one in five young people currently unemployed or out of full time education, it's welcome news that Redrow Homes is once again recruiting construction apprentices.
Figures released last week by the Office of National Statistics show that youth unemployment (16 - 24-year-olds) is at near record levels, but the award-winning housebuilder is offering around 20 promising youngsters the chance to begin forging a career.
This year's recruitment drive in England and Wales follows on from Redrow's successful apprentice scheme in 2010, when the company took on 50 new trainees more than double the numbers for the previous two years combined.
One of those candidates was Alex Frostick, 18, from Bracknell, who is nearly a year into a three-year plumbing apprenticeship with Redrow. He divides his time between studying at Aldershot College, where he is working towards a level 2 NVQ, and working on site at Jennett's Park, in Bracknell.
He said: "I'm really enjoying my apprenticeship and it's teaching me lots of things I wouldn't be able to learn in the classroom. It's real life work and you have to take everything on board that you are being taught so you can do the work to a high standard. I'm looking forward to gaining new qualifications and full-time employment in the housing industry in the future."
Redrow believes apprenticeships are a key component for maintaining a skilled workforce and thus securing a successful future for the house building industry.
Karen Jones, HR director for Redrow, says: "It is vital for our industry that we continue to invest in training, even during testing economic times, to ensure we do not experience a skills shortage in years to come.
"We want to select the most promising candidates, who are motivated to learn and want to make a career in the industry. Our company mantra is 'Our Pride ~ Your Joy', and we want all our staff, including our apprentices, to take a pride in their work so our customers can experience the joy of owning a home built by quality craftsmen."
The Redrow apprenticeship programme combines 'on-the-job' paid work and an NVQ completed over three years.
Apprentices are placed with an experienced and trusted sub-contractor, where they can learn the skills required to do their chosen job whilst working on Redrow developments and also going to college one day a week.
Applications are being sought for apprenticeships in the core trades of bricklaying and woodcraft, although applications for other trades including plumbing will be considered.
Applicants must be registered with CITB Construction Skills (CSkills), the construction industry's training board.
Candidates are asked to take and pass the CSkills Skills Learning Exercise (SLE) in order to be considered for an apprenticeship. The SLE tests applicants on their understanding of practical information they are likely to require on a building site, such as measurements and drawings, etc.
Shortlisted candidates will then be interviewed with the successful ones commencing their apprenticeship in September 2011.
Redrow has also offered positions to six Graduate Trainees for September this year and has begun the recruitment process for a new intake of under-graduate one-year work placements.
See Also: Property News (6701), Redrow (148), Jennett's Park (2), Bracknell (15)
Date Published: 26 April 2011
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