Ladder for Shropshire: Role for apprentices on £14 million Oswestry hospital project site

Kier Construction is to create five roles as part of the drive to deliver apprenticeships in Shropshire, while the hospital has also agreed to take on an apprentice electrician and plumber.

The builder will offer apprenticeships in plumbing, electro-technical, ground works, site carpentry and painting and decorating.

Kier is working on the £14 million theatre complex at Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital in Oswestry, and is bringing in apprentices to work on the site.

The Ladder for Shropshire is an apprenticeship scheme.

And whether you are a business looking at taking on an apprentice or a young person looking for work, there are plenty of benefits to being part of getting involved. We want companies – large, medium and small – to take on apprentices and help them onto the job ladder.

An apprenticeship is a paid job that includes on and off-the-job training. For every apprentice taken, employers may be eligible for a Government grant of £1,500.

More than 80 per cent of consumers favour using a company that takes on apprentices and 74 per cent of businesses say apprentices are more loyal and stay with the business longer than other employees.

• For full details visit ladderforshropshire.co.uk

• For more information call 0330 999 8441 or 0800 999 8441.

• You can also email ladder@apprentice-providers.co.uk or fill out the online contact form here

Project manager Rob Burgess said: "Cultivating the next generation of talent is vital to our success. Instead of waiting for young people to learn the skills we want, we strive to provide those opportunities, with programmes like apprenticeships and bespoke graduate programmes."

Some apprenticeships will be offered jointly with the hospital, while the hospital trust will be also employing an apprentice electrician and an apprentice plumber.

Others will available through sub-contractors such as Prydden Groundworks and P&L Joinery.

The Ladder for Shropshire has seen dozens of apprenticeships created for young people in the county. It is aimed at creating opportunities in skilled roles and to build the county's future workforce.

Along with the apprenticeships, schools, colleges and trainers can arrange site visits or work experience at the new hospital site.

Nick Huband, head of estates and facilities at hospital's NHS foundation trust, said: "We are delighted to be able to give opportunities to young people from the communities close to our hospital.

"Working in conjunction with our principal supply chain partners, Keir, we will be employing apprentices on the new development. They will be gaining valuable skills and knowledge which will hopefully set them off on the right path to enjoy successful careers within the industry."

The number of vacancies for young apprentices in Oswestry and North Shropshire is now approaching 20 following Kier's announcement.

They include posts with top engineering companies in the area.

Oswestry-based garage door manufacturer Aluroll is among the businesses hoping to appoint new staff, having expanded its operation recently, and has three vacancies, in engineering machining, welding and fabrication, and warehousing.

Dairy robotics specialist Fullwood, which is based in Ellesmere, is also advertising, and hopes to train two young people in the world of engineering, including in robotics.

Hi-tech testing specialist Cranage in Market Drayton has a role for a potential electronic engineer, while administration positions are currently available at Cambrian Medical Practice and the Orthopaedic Hospital, both in Oswestry.

Training providers across Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin now hope the appointments made under the campaign so far can now entice more young people into the new roles, and Ladder representatives are now set to meet with Job Centre Plus bosses to help develop the campaign,

Shropshire Star editor Martin Wright urged young people to take advantage of the roles that are available across the county.

"Businesses have responded fantastically well to the Ladder campaign, and we are so proud that this campaign is creating so many opportunities," he said.

"Local employers are opening their arms to young people looking to take the first step on the path to a bright future, and now is the time for our young workers to snap up those opportunities."