Balfour Beatty is pledging more than fifty new apprenticeships during National Apprenticeship Week (3-7 March) as part of its commitment to recruiting and developing the civil engineers, electricians, skilled trades and project leaders of tomorrow.
Balfour Beatty currently employs over 200 apprentices and National Apprenticeship Week provides a platform to celebrate the positive impact that apprenticeships have on individuals, businesses and the economy.
The 2014 pledge is in line with a commitment to ensure that within five years, 5% of Balfour Beatty’s UK workforce are graduates, apprentices or sponsored students. Balfour Beatty is committed to offering new and increased opportunities for new entrants who follow structured training schemes.
This year, for the first time, Balfour Beatty is putting a selection of its apprenticeship positions on the National Apprenticeship Service’s website, a ‘one –stop shop’ for those looking for apprenticeships in the UK and an added opportunity to attract young and emerging talent to the industry.
Thomas Hyland started his career with Balfour Beatty as an electrical apprentice. During his apprenticeship he gained an NVQ level 2 and 3 in his chosen profession and is now working in the Nuclear New Build part of the company. He was named Balfour Beatty’s ‘Apprentice of the Year’ in 2013. Thomas said: “I knew that Balfour Beatty has a highly skilled workforce and all their apprentices are trained to a high standard, which was what I was looking for. They are excellent at recognising and developing talent within the business and I would recommend anyone with the determination to succeed in the construction industry to give apprenticeships a go.”
Another apprentice, Oliver Trim, 21, from Hertfordshire works as an electrical apprentice for Balfour Beatty on the Crossrail project at Whitechapel and has been nominated for a prestigious Crossrail apprentice award. He said: “I’ve been at Whitechapel and Liverpool Street for just over two years. I started off doing the basics up top before the shaft was dug and worked down putting in lights and installing services. The work we’re doing is inspirational and I’m lucky to be here with all the people around me who have many years’ experience.”
Nicholas Pollard, Balfour Beatty Construction Services UK Chief Executive Officer, said: "I know that the future of our industry depends on finding and investing in the next generation of engineers, project managers and skilled trades. We are committed to ensuring that five percent of our workforce is apprentices, graduates or sponsored students within five years so that we can maintain the highest quality workforce right here in the UK.”
Balfour Beatty will be relaying the experiences of its current apprentices throughout National Apprenticeship week through social media channels.
Follow @balfourbeatty for the latest updates
Read more about our apprenticeships
Meet Balfour Beatty Electrical Apprentice Thomas Hyland
Media enquires:
Scott Wilson
Balfour Beatty Construction Services UK
t: +44 (0)207 963 2150
M: +44 (0)7966 895011
e: scott.wilson3@balfourbeatty.com
Notes to editors:
1. Balfour Beatty’s pledge is part of the seventh annual National Apprenticeship Week, co-ordinated by the National Apprenticeship Service, which will takes place from 3-7 March 2014. More information can be found here: www.apprenticeships.org.uk.
2. Balfour Beatty’s UK and Ireland construction business (www.balfourbeattycsuk.com) is a leading integrator of complex, sophisticated and innovative projects that improve the UK’s and Ireland’s national infrastructure and an experienced provider of local and regional projects that help build lasting communities.
We offer a broad range of capabilities in construction, civil engineering and mechanical & electrical engineering services. With offices throughout the UK and Ireland, we deliver a locally-focused service with the support of our national network of expertise and resources.
Balfour Beatty’s UK and Ireland construction business employs 10,000 people.
3. Balfour Beatty (www.balfourbeatty.com) is an international infrastructure group that delivers world class services essential to the development, creation and care of infrastructure assets; from finance and development, through design and project management to construction and maintenance.
Our businesses draw on more than 100 years of experience to deliver the highest levels of quality, safety and technical expertise to our clients principally in the UK and the USA, with developing businesses in Australia, Canada, the Middle East, South Africa and South East Asia.
With proven expertise in delivering infrastructure critical to support communities and society today and in the future, our key market sectors focus on infrastructure - transportation (roads, rail and aviation), power and energy, water and complex buildings (both commercial and social).
Balfour Beatty employs 40,000 people around the world.
