A pair of our apprentices from Chesterfield who are building the foundations to a successful career in construction thanks to Harron Homes, are calling for other young people to consider this route into the industry this National Apprenticeship Week (6th to 12th February).
Kian, age 18, is currently completing his joinery apprenticeship on a ‘day-release’ course, with his work on site at our Thorpe Meadows development in Holmewood, balanced with one day per week spent at Chesterfield College. The course is a Level 2 Joinery Diploma, studied over two years and designed to equip people new to the industry with all the crucial skills in the field.
Our passion for building quality homes to the highest specification means the business is keen to get apprentices stuck in with practical on-site work as soon as possible. By training the team from the ground up with apprenticeships like these, we can maintain our high design and construction standards, while giving people like Kian the opportunity to begin practicing valuable skills in real work contexts straightaway.
“Since starting on this Apprenticeship last September, I’ve quickly settled in. Harron got me working on site really quickly, and I already feel like a valued member of the team. I’d recommend it to anyone keen to get into construction.
“Working on site at Thorpe Meadows means I get to see finished areas of the development while working on the next phases. Having the finished homes in front of you and being able to see directly how brilliant the finished build looks, really helps to motivate you. You suddenly realise that every little thing you do, however technical it might seem by itself, is a key part of creating these great homes,” says Kian.
Joining Kian on site at Thorpe Meadows is 20 year old Lloyd Hunt, an apprentice bricklayer from Matlock in Derbyshire, who is also completing a day release course at Chesterfield College.
“On site, the bricklaying techniques I’ve learnt at college can be applied to actual construction work of the very highest standard,” says Lloyd.
“I’ve been here at Harron for four and a half months now and I’ve already learnt so much from the experience. So many courses out there have you working on theoretical things for months before you actually put the skills to use. With Harron, I was able to get stuck in straight away, and because of that, I feel I’m already developing into a capable bricklayer.
“So far I’ve been retrieving mortar, keeping the site tidy, and even laying some bricks myself. The houses at Thorpe Meadows are admired for their excellent design standards, so I’m really proud to become a part of the build process and would encourage anyone considering an apprenticeship to go for it.”
Lee Kilby, Construction Director, comments, “The value of the apprenticeship in joinery and in bricklaying can’t be overestimated. Once you’ve received the qualification, you have a skill for life: no-one can take that away from you. It’s always going to give you access into a career.
“It’s in our interest to train these apprentices up to the highest level and ensure they become instrumental in achieving Harron’s aims of creating beautiful, long-lasting homes.
“We’re proud to invest in our apprentices and help them become a part of our mission to deliver our customers their dream home.”
This year’s National Apprenticeship Week (6th-12th February) celebrates ‘Skills for Life’, with the week reflecting on how apprenticeships can help individuals develop the skills and knowledge needed for a rewarding career, while at the same time helping businesses develop a talented workforce well-equipped with crucial skills for the future.
For more information on careers at Harron Homes please visit www.harronhomes.co.uk/careers/.