An award-winning apprenticeship scheme run by renowned civil engineering firm Jones Bros, recruits its apprentices as employees from the outset – setting it apart from many of its competitors.
And the family-run firm says it is extremely proud that three quarters of its apprentices remain at the company at the end of its two-year training programme, unlike many other such schemes.
Jones Bros enjoys a higher than average completion rate, with 91 per cent of apprentices completing the full apprenticeship framework and qualifying.
After qualifying, 76 per cent stay with the company, with the remainder choosing to leave.
Richard Owen, Jones Bros’ training manager, speaking during National Apprenticeship Week, 2017, said: “Our apprentices are virtually guaranteed a job as well as opportunities for career progression in the long term, provided they meet our stringent monitoring criteria along the way, which almost all of them do.
“When candidates come for interview, they are being assessed for their suitability not only as an apprentice but as a long-term employee, because we are passionate about investing in our workforce.”
This year’s National Apprenticeship Week, running from 6-10 March, is the tenth such event and aims to celebrate the achievements of apprentices and companies who invest time and money in them.
Jones Bros has run apprenticeship schemes for more than 30 years. It recruited 68 apprentices in the past two years – a record for the growing firm.
Apprentices from across the UK have been employed by Jones Bros – all getting the opportunity to gain valuable experience on a range of prestigious, multi-million pound projects. Many have progressed through the ranks, going on to head up major projects.
The Ruthin-based company recently introduced a new general construction operatives’ apprenticeship programme, plus a construction plant maintenance apprenticeship, after it identified a decrease in workers with expertise in groundworks, and plant maintenance.
They run alongside the company’s well-established plant operation apprenticeship scheme, while traineeships are also provided in other areas of the business including finance.
Managing director John Dielhof said: “We’ve invested heavily in our apprenticeship programme in recent years. This has been in an effort to bring through a committed and highly skilled workforce, which is crucial to our plans for future growth.”
Jones Bros’ training department was shortlisted in the Outstanding Training Partner category in the Construction Industry Training Board’s (CITB) 2015 Pride of Construction awards, having won the prize the previous year.
Founded in the 1950s, Jones Bros employs approximately 350 people. It operates across the UK in sectors including construction of waste management facilities, highways and renewable energy projects such as wind farms.