Deeside based builder teams up with housing provider to create apprenticeships

A partnership between an award-winning builder and a leading social housing provider has helped create over 20 apprenticeships across two major construction sites in North Wales.

Flintshire-based Anwyl Construction are building two state-of-the-art extra care housing schemes worth £17 million for The Pennaf Housing Group at Flint and Llangefni, on Anglesey.

Both projects are major boosts for local employment and supply chains and for apprenticeships to help plug the skills gap in the construction industry.

At Hafan Cefni, Llangefni, there are currently six apprentices learning their trades at the development, which will provide 63 independent living apartments, nears its July completion date.

Simon Rose, Anwyl Construction Commercial Manager, said:

“It’s very important to us that the communities where we operate benefit from the investment that goes into important developments like this.

“One of the enduring ways that can happen is by creating apprenticeships which give a career path to young people from the local area and at the same time help create a skilled workforce which is vital for companies like us.

“It means we can continue to compete for major contracts like this right across North and Mid Wales and the North West and we are very proud of the fact that 20 per cent of our current workforce of 150 began their careers with us as apprentices.”

There are currently six apprentices on site at Hafan Cefni, two of them from A J Field Electrical and Mechanical from Sandycroft, in Flintshire.

 Ollie Taylor, 17, from Gwernymynydd, Mold, is an apprentice electrician with A J Field and he said:

“My dad is a stonemason so I have been around construction sites and I always wanted to do something hands on rather than do A-levels.

“I e-mailed A J Field and was called in for an interview and I’ve been with them as an apprentice since September, going to Coleg Cambria on Mondays, and I love it.”

Brad Mellor, 19, an apprentice plumber from Holywell, said:

“I like being hands-on and I had been to Coleg Cambria to do Level One plumbing and I’ve been with A J Field for three weeks.

“I really enjoy it, there’s lots of variety and it’s good to be involved with a major development like this and have the opportunity to build a career.”

Anwyl Construction Site Manager at Hafan Cefni Andy Adamson, from Rhyl, joined the company 32 years ago as a 16-year-old apprentice and he said:

“We have had apprentices working here throughout the contract and covering virtually all the building trades.

“I began with Anwyl as an apprentice myself and they have always encouraged staff to take responsibility and do courses so there is a clear career path for someone young coming into the industry and the opportunity to develop a career.”

For more information on Anwyl Construction go to http://www.anwylconstruction.co.uk