It’s National Apprenticeship Week across the UK, and United Colleges Group has been celebrating with a series of panels designed to inspire their next wave of apprentices and connect them with exciting opportunities to kickstart their careers.
At College of North West London, students engaged with speakers from JBT Training and Carrier to learn more about apprenticeship programs across bricklaying, carpentry, electrical and refrigeration disciplines.
City of Westminster College students convened at Paddington Campus to speak to employers, Smart Managed Solutions and Stace, to hear about engineering and construction apprenticeships on offer.
Julie Palmer, Head of Apprenticeships and Skills Training at United Colleges Group, said “As both an apprenticeship provider and employer we find the industry panels a crucial way of linking students to the world of work and in particular apprenticeships. Our industry partners provide valuable insights into opportunities within the apprenticeship workspace and give the students a valuable opportunity to enhance their skills and knowledge to prepare for their next steps in their chosen career.”
Last National Apprenticeship Week, we got to speak to Cian, a Level 2 Bricklaying apprentice at College of North West London. One year on, it’s time to check in with him and see how he’s doing.
Can you tell us a bit about your apprenticeship and what you do now?
I did the City and Guilds Standards Level 2 Bricklaying apprenticeship with College of North West London. Upon completion of my end point assessment I applied for my NVQ Level 2 Blue (skilled worker) CSCS card which essentially is your certification that you’re a fully qualified bricklayer when you show up on any new sites or to any new company. As an apprentice I had a green (labourers) card and was PAYE whereas now I’m self-employed bricklayer working for a large subcontractor.
How do you feel you’ve grown since starting?
I think the main area of personal growth has been in my hand skills, and even more so in my eyes. I’ve learnt to get a feel for distances, measurements and picking up gauge, level and plum to within a finer margin of the correct position by eye. It definitely makes for a more efficient way of working. In terms of mentality and attitude to work, I’ve developed a lot in how to conduct myself, and that’s down to the college. In construction, everything you create is finely critiqued over and over by others and is expected to fit within tight parameters. Professional growth is learning to be less defensive but also knowing when you are right to have that confidence not to back down and show your reasoning.
How has your apprenticeship prepared you for your future career?
I think my apprenticeship has been the best pathway to my career because the knowledge-based materials covered in the lectures make up 90% of what I’ve covered in any further construction qualifications and tickets I’ve completed. Even the SMSTS course to be a project manager was very straightforward after completing a module in the principles of construction from the Level 1 diploma.
Attending college allows you to learn an overall basic knowledge of the construction industry and other trades, which is very beneficial. It was a fantastic opportunity learning about bricklaying, and I even had the opportunity to attempt more in depth decorative brickwork elements in college which most people never get to experience throughout their careers on site. For anyone who aspires to go out on their own and work for themselves, the apprenticeship teaches specific modules on pricing up jobs and dealing with customers/clients, how to construct within regulations from foundations upwards, which are tools that really can’t be learned from any large companies.
What advice would you give to someone considering an apprenticeship?
Concentrate on the college side of it as you will always be given the opportunity there to develop your hand skills and do all of your setting out and understanding the drawings; your tutors are always there to answer questions. Apprentices can be taken advantage of as cheaper labourers, so if you are considering an apprenticeship I would suggest asking plenty of questions to the employer and if possible any current or past apprentices from that company before committing. It’s also important not to get too hung up on the money; what’s most important is time on the trowel and then once you complete the apprenticeship the money will come. I was very fortunate with my employer that I was very well paid, but in hindsight I would have perhaps tried to have developed sooner and been better prepared to complete my EPA earlier, and subsequently be qualified and then eligible for bigger starting wages.