Jones Bros’ relationship with Coleg Cambria and Wrexham University earns feature in leading business title28th Nov 2025

Jones Bros Civil Engineering UK’s long-standing collaboration with Coleg Cambria and Wrexham University has been spotlighted by a prominent Welsh media outlet.

Wales Business Insider delved into the partnership between the Ruthin-headquartered firm and the higher education institution to uncover how they work together effectively to deliver the business’ degree apprenticeship scheme.

The programme underwent significant improvements in 2024 to offer participants a BEng (Hons) in Civil Engineering or a BSc (Hons) in Quantity Surveying for the first time.

Coleg Cambria and Wrexham University provide the classroom-based teaching, whilst Jones Bros offers practical, hands-on experience at its purpose-built training centre and on UK-wide projects.

The programme enables the firm’s civil engineering apprentices to alternate between college and practical experience on significant schemes, applying their academic learning on real site environments, working alongside experienced engineers, supervisors and project teams.

By contributing to live developments, apprentices establish practical skills, build confidence, and gain a clear understanding of how large-scale civil engineering works are planned, delivered, and managed in practice.

Jones Bros head of business management support Tony Murphy said: “Equipping young people with the relevant skills and knowledge needed to thrive in the civil engineering industry is central to us, so it is great to see our efforts kick-starting careers.

“Thanks to the strong working relationship with Coleg Cambria and Wrexham University, we have been able to continually enhance our existing programme and will continue to review the course to identify further improvements.

“We are currently recruiting for our third intake via these courses which will take our total to 25 employees on a degree apprenticeship.

“I hope our partnership can inspire and guide like-minded businesses on how they might strategically collaborate with a college or university.”

Established in the 1950s, Jones Bros owns one of the largest plant fleets in the UK and employs approximately 550 people.

The company is currently working on contracts in various sectors including highways, flood and marine defence, reservoirs, waste management and renewable energy around the UK.

The company runs an award-winning apprenticeship scheme, which has produced a large percentage of its current workforce, with several of its senior managers having started out as apprentices or in a trainee role. It has recruited hundreds of apprentices over the years.