NEWS RELEASE: SPIRIT OF APPRENTICES
06/08/2010
Harry Fairclough was recently called upon to lend its support to ConstructionSkills in the North West with its drive to encourage smaller companies in Cheshire to invest in would-be apprentices looking to start a career in construction.
Richard Longfellow, Managing Director comments;
"As a contractor established in the region for over 111 years and one renowned for its support for apprentices we were only too willing to get behind an initiative which so closely aligns with our approach to business. We will certainly be looking to partner up with suppliers who hold similar values and objectives. Quality construction projects cannot be delivered without quality staff and operatives, which means training: particularly training of young people; has to be at the forefront of our thinking and actions".
For more information on Harry Fairclough's award-winning apprentices visit its website on www.harryfairclough.co.uk/apprenticeships.
A full text of the press release announcing ConstructionSkills initiative is attached below.
-ENDS-
Supply for the demand
ConstructionSkills calls on local construction companies in Cheshire to continue to support apprenticeships
ConstructionSkills, the Sector Skills Council for the construction industry, is calling for the largest UK building firms to help stimulate a ‘spirit of apprenticeships' throughout the sector's supply chain, giving a training boost to construction's smaller businesses. As part of its annual employer recruitment drive to encourage more firms to invest in young people, ConstructionSkills is asking how the biggest building firms can use their considerable influence to demonstrate the value apprentices bring to businesses of all sizes.
New research has revealed that almost a third of companies have slashed their apprenticeship recruitment plans this year because of the recession. Following this news, ConstructionSkills is looking to top contractors to help foster a sector-wide sentiment that apprentices are good for business.
Many major contractors want the smaller firms employed in the supply chain to demonstrate an active training culture before awarding work, and ConstructionSkills is looking to companies in Cheshire to get more out of them by seeking their support and putting themselves in the best position to win more work from them.
Gwen Caddick, Regional Strategy Advisor for ConstructionSkills in the North West "We desperately need to provide more employers for the would-be apprentices looking to start a career in construction. It is certainly a case of supplying the demand at the moment.
"There is a real need for more employers to take an apprentice on, but many of the smaller companies in Cheshire don't feel that they have the capacity or time to do so. What we need is for smaller companies to understand the process of taking on an apprentice, what the businesses benefits are and how they can access help and support, both from us, and from larger companies."
Warrington based Harry Fairclough Construction employs a number of apprentices across the company.
Richard Longfellow, Managing Director comments: "Harry Fairclough our founder was apprentice trained and we have employed apprentices throughout our 111 year history, the majority of whom have gone on to have lifelong careers with us. It is fundamental to the success of our business that we develop our employees to reach their full potential. We see our apprentice scheme as the bedrock of this objective. We believe that our approach produces a loyal highly skilled workforce, a workforce that retains knowledge, know how and learning and one that can be trusted and flexible in the work environment, all of which are essential pre-requisites to the delivery of successful construction projects for our customers. Ultimately our success as a business is dependant on the success of our apprentices which is why our investment is long term and ongoing and why we work closely with ConstructionSkills who provide support by way of practical advice and grants".
The discussion on why apprentices are good for business continues on ConstructionSkills' YouTube site - http://www.youtube.com/user/ConstructionSkills
To find out how ConstructionSkills could help your business grow, visit: www.cskills.org or contact your local ConstructionSkills office.