Special recognition for Huw as he heads to Downing Street20th Nov 2023

Jones Bros Civil Engineering UK chairman Huw Jones MBE has been recognised at a special 10 Downing Street reception in honour of his services to providing training to young people.

The Ruthin-based company runs an award-winning apprenticeship and trainee scheme, which has produced nearly 40 per cent of its current workforce.

More than 100 people have been recruited during the past three years, whilst many of the civil engineering contractor’s senior managers have started out on the course.

Vale of Clwyd MP Dr James Davies invited Huw to London where he took part in a tour of Parliament and visited the gallery of the House of Commons chamber before a local skills reception.

Huw, who in 2020 was awarded an MBE for services to the economy in Wales, said:

“As a company, we are committed to helping young people gain knowledge, experience, and qualifications that will help them for the rest of their careers.

“We want those who come to us as apprentices and trainees to grow with Jones Bros and climb the ladder along the way. It provides everyone with great satisfaction when that happens.

“Affording individuals the chance to learn whilst working on major schemes such as the £139 million Caernarfon and Bontnewydd bypass and Dogger Bank, which is the world’s largest offshore wind farm, only helps accelerate their development.”

James was thrilled to be able to acknowledge the work of Huw and Jones Bros in providing skills to young people.

He said: “I have visited Jones Bros a number of times in recent years and during my last trip had the pleasure of meeting and speaking to some of the apprentices. They told me of the benefits of training on the job.

“Huw has previously said to me that the apprentices and trainees are ‘the lifeblood of our company and they are employed from day one and not just at the end of their course’.

“Jones Bros clearly recognises the crucial need to invest in our young people and to provide them with the tools they need to succeed in life.

“The company is one of the UK’s leading civil engineering contractors with a wealth of knowledge and experience across a broad range of sectors and it is great that this is being passed on to future generations.”

Secretary of state for education, Rt Hon Gillian Keegan MP added: “James is a huge champion for skills in the Vale of Clwyd.

“It was fantastic to celebrate the brilliant work going on across the country to develop the skills our local communities need to grow the economy and to hear more about what is being achieved at Jones Bros.”

Established in the 1950s, Jones Bros owns one of the largest plant fleets in the UK and employs approximately 500 people.

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