Member Article

College builds apprentices with Arup

With National Apprenticeship Week highlighting the important role that apprentices play across all industries, one organisation that recognises the value of apprenticeships is global professional services firm Arup, which has now trained nine apprentices at Leeds College of Building in recent years.

Every year apprentices from Arup’s offices in Leeds and Sheffield spend one day a week at Leeds College of Building completing Building Services Apprenticeships as well as the college’s Civil Engineering Advanced Technician Apprenticeships.

National Apprenticeship Week runs from 9th to 13th March 2015 and celebrates apprenticeships and the positive impact they have on individuals, businesses and the wider economy. Last year Arup, which is an independent firm of designers, planners, engineers, consultants and technical specialists offering a broad range of professional services, was named in a prestigious league table of the UK’s Top 30 Employers of Apprentices.

Louisa Pointon, Arup’s New Entrant Development Advisor, explains: “Arup seeks ever better ways to imagine, re-imagine and reshape the built environment and deliver real value to clients, which means continually ensuring our talented employees are equipped to maximise their potential. Apprentices are a huge part of this ethos and we now employ over 60 throughout the UK with a further 50 planned for 2015 who study for academic qualifications and industry recognised professional qualifications, while working and learning in our offices alongside respected technical professionals.

“We have a longstanding relationship with Leeds College of Building because it offers specialist expertise and knowledge of the construction industry, which sets it apart from most other education providers. In addition, many of the college’s lecturers have worked in the construction industry, which gives them a great understanding of the requirements of leading employers in the sector. This translates into the college continually providing our apprentices with an exceptional standard of training that significantly benefits both our clients and Arup as a whole.”

Brian Duffy is Leeds College of Building’s Higher Education Faculty Director. He says: “Arup is one of the world’s leading suppliers of professional services and it’s rewarding to see such a well-established and global organisation continually championing apprenticeships. Huge numbers of apprentices at Arup go on to do fantastic things in their careers which demonstrates the endless opportunities for progression that apprenticeships can offer.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Steven Wright .