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Flintshire teenagers forging a career with business apprenticeship scheme

Dec 29 2010 by Dave Goodban, Flintshire Chronicle

TWO teenagers from Flintshire are forging a career in the civil engineering industry, after being recruited onto a revamped apprenticeship scheme.

Stuart Roberts from Mold and Josh Asplet from Buckley, are two of six youngsters to have been accepted on to the scheme, run by North Wales civil engineering firm Jones Bros.

The new-look scheme means apprentices join the payroll and earn a wage from the outset as permanent Jones Bros employees.

Also, for the first time, the apprentices will complete a 12-week introductory course at the company’s purpose-designed training centre, next to its Ruthin headquarters, rather than at a national training college in Norfolk.

They will also train at the company’s 100-acre quarry site at the Horseshoe Pass, Llangollen.

Instructor, Myfyr Roberts, said: “The great thing about this course is that youngsters can gain qualifications while learning on the job and taking a wage home.

“They are learning in North Wales, which is fantastic as it means we are training our future workforce on our own doorstep.”

The six trainees, aged 17-19, will learn how to operate various kinds of plant and machinery before sitting a series of verbal and practical exams.

If successful, they will be dispatched to work on one of Jones Bros’ 20 ongoing projects around the UK, to continue their work towards an NVQ qualification in specialised plant machinery operations (SPMO).

Trainee Stuart, 19, urged other young people in Flintshire to take advantage of the scheme by signing up.

He said: “As an apprentice you get to learn lots of practical skills and get a qualification, and the company pays for all of your training and development.

“It’s a good scheme for young people who want to learn a trade.”

Ken Jones, training support manager at Jones Bros, added: “This is a major step forward for the company.

“Job opportunities for young people are few and far between these days.

“Jones Bros has always believed in the value of apprenticeship schemes and has recruited youngsters to them every year.

“This new full-time scheme underlines our commitment to training the young people of North Wales to become the region’s next generation of construction workers.”

Training manager, Guy Brookes, said Jones Bros was welcoming applications for the next intake to the apprenticeship scheme.

Candidates can call the training centre on 01824 709222 or email [email protected] to apply for an assessment.

The apprenticeship scheme is also open to employees of other companies, and in many cases grant-aided assistance is available.

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