Nurturing future talent in construction
At GS Contracts our talented team are our very best asset. Always looking to the future, we continue to keep an eye out for emerging talent to help us take our business to the next level.
With a growing number of the construction workforce reaching retirement age – 22% are over 50 and 15% are in their 60s – and fewer young people choosing a career in construction, the need to spot and nurture fresh talent has never been more important.
One way we work to develop this future talent is through the construction apprenticeship scheme. Not only does this allow us to harness the enthusiasm of promising newcomers, it also gives young people the chance to gain skills and experience with the very real possibility of a career at the end of it.
A great example of the opportunities that can come from following the apprenticeship programme is Liam Saunders, our senior site manager.
Liam first joined GS Contracts when he was just 14-years-old, to carry out work experience.
He clearly caught the bug for construction, returning first for a Saturday job in the workshop, and then to complete an apprentice with us.
Over time Liam has worked his way up to the position of senior site manager and is a valued member of the GS Contracts family.
Liam is just one of a number of our employees who have started their career with us via an apprenticeship, gaining the necessary skills and knowledge to work in the construction sector, while at the same time benefiting from hands-on experience.
Although apprenticeships are traditionally aimed at school leavers, this doesn’t mean older candidates are excluded.
Take for example one of our talented workshop employees, Martyn Rhodes. Martyn was 31 when he joined us. After being made redundant from his previous job he decided to sign up for an apprenticeship in bench joinery, spending part of his week at college and the rest gaining crucial experience as part of the GS Contracts team.
As in many cases, once Martyn had successfully completed his apprenticeship, he was offered a permanent job offer with us and six years on he is a key player in our joinery team.
Apprenticeships offer us a great way to invest in our people, while building a team of talented individuals with spark, enthusiasm and a real understanding of our business.
Interested in finding out more about apprenticeships with GS Contracts? Call us on 01206 793053.