Member Article

Local housebuilder celebrates 10th annual National Apprenticeship Week

Barratt Developments Yorkshire West, which includes both the Barratt and David Wilson Homes brands, has commenced its search for the next stars of the construction industry with the launch of its apprenticeship programme for 2017, which coincides with National Apprenticeship Week. 2017 marks the 10th annual National Apprenticeship Week, with Barratt Developments having taken on 34 apprentices over the past 10 years.

This year sees the leading housebulder take on six new apprentices as part of it’s ‘Future Talent’ Programmes, further demonstrating Barratt’s commitment to developing industry talent. Since the beginning of its scheme, Barratt has taken on apprentices in a range of disciplines ranging from bricklaying, joining, commercial, technical and buying.

The launch of the 2017 scheme strengthens Barratt’s reputation for excellent staff progression, with a number of departments in the company boasting senior team members that have risen from entry level positions. Within the housebuilder’s commercial department, two members of staff have progressed up the ranks from entry level positions, while a further apprentice is set to be appointed later this year. There are also two apprentices in the department currently in their first and second years of initital training.

In addition, the construction department of Barratt Yorkshire West currently boasts four Site Managers and Assistant Site Managers that began their careers as apprentices, with a further four bricklaying and joinery apprentices are expected to be appointed as part of the 2017 intake, whilst in the technical department, numerous staff members have enjoyed comprehensive Higher National Certificate (HNC) and Higher National Diploma (HND) training since starting at the company. Richard Weilding, who joined Barratt four and a half years ago as a Technical Trainee, has now progressed through HNC and HND training and is now a Technical Co-ordinator within the team.

Ian Ruthven, Managing Director at Barratt Developments Yorkshire West, commented:

“We’re extremely proud of our apprenticeship scheme and the talented team members that have passed through it and stayed with the company over the years. It is brilliant we have taken on a total of 34 apprentices over the last 10 years, helping all of these with their first step into their career. There is often discussion over the lack of skills within the industry, but we feel we’re playing a small but vital part in addressing this gap and setting up our staff for years of success.”

Barratt Developments’ Apprenticeship Programme has been recognised by industry bodies as the best of its kind in recent years including the CITB Apprenticeship Awards, the Top 100 Apprenticeship Employers, and National Apprenticeship Service’s BT Macro Employer of the Year Award.

National Apprenticeship Week, which starts on 6th March 2017, was set up by the Government’s National Apprenticeship Service and is designed to celebrate apprenticeships and the positive impact they have on individuals, businesses and the wider economy.

For more information on careers with Barratt Developments, please visit http://www.barrattfuturetalent.co.uk/

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Richard Savage .