International support services and construction services
Carillion
Carillion is one of the UK’s leading business and construction services companies, specialising in bricklaying and carpentry, with a turnover of £2bn and approximately 18,000 employees.
Nationally Carillion recruits over 800 school leavers each year as apprentices at its national network of Construction Training Centres. The majority of Carillion apprentices achieve a National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) level 2 in their chosen trade and many progress to an NVQ 3 level qualification. Carillion has some 1,500 learners studying MAs per month at training centres across the country and 15 Construction Training Centres dedicated to the training and development of the next generation of construction workers.
Carillion is committed to helping create a sustainable construction industry. The company recruits more than 1200 young apprentices each year onto its apprenticeship training programme. Although Carillion employs these apprentices, they are being trained for the industry in general rather than just for Carillion. All training and assessment takes place at one of Carillion's 16 Construction Training Centres located across the UK. The apprentices obtain work experience with Carillion sub-contractors and a large number of other construction firms, especially small to medium sized employers.
The Heathrow Construction Training Centre was set up by BAA Heathrow and the Learning and Skills Council, and is operated by Carillion Construction Training alongside the Engineering Construction Training Board. The airport is home to Terminal 5, currently one of the largest construction projects in the world.
The Heathrow Construction Training Centre opened in September 2003 in an industrial estate on the airport’s southern perimeter. Carillion Construction Training employs the Apprentices, currently numbering approximately 80, and negotiates work placements for them involving local builders, sub contractors and T5 construction companies. T5 is Europe’s largest construction project and will employ 4,000 construction workers at its peak.
Andrew Dryland, Chair of the Heathrow Employment Forum and Director of Planning and Environment for BAA Heathrow, said: “The Heathrow Construction Training Centre demonstrates what can be achieved when public agencies and major private companies work together. One of the main challenges to the successful completion of T5 on time and to budget is ensuring a steady supply of skilled construction workers much needed in this sector. BAA and the other members of the forum are committed to ensuring that T5 and other construction projects at Heathrow serve to increase the supply of skilled construction workers and present new employment and training opportunities for local people.”
Examples of Apprentices:
Simon Fildes is 17 years old and lives at Addlestone, near Weybridge in Surrey. In March 2004 he began studying for a Foundation Apprenticeship in bricklaying, at the Heathrow Construction Training Centre. Simon says he was “not doing very much” before this period. The initial 14 weeks of his course mixes theory and practical work with some key skills covering, in particular, maths. By the time the course is finished in about two years’ time he hopes to have secured a job in the local area.
“It’s good to have a trade. There will be a lot of work on T5 but there is also a lot of affordable housing being built,” says Simon. “It’s a good course and much more relaxed than school. We get on well with the instructors but there’s no messing around. We are quite a bit ahead on the course.”
Stuart Rivers, Bricklaying Instructor, says: “Simon is a very keen and enthusiastic student- he recognises that there is a shortfall in the training sector so he values the position that he has. He also knows there is a shortage of housing and the apprenticeship he is taking will provide him with a good future over the coming years.”
Aaron Ashlin is 17 years old and lives in Ashford, Middlesex. His experience to date has been working with a small team building a home extension. He views working on site on a project the size of T5 as a completely different experience but one that’s worth a try. He says he has not thought ahead to completing his NVQ 3 as yet (he is currently working on his NVQ 2) although he admits the prospect of supervising a team does appeal. He is one of the first to sign up for the carpentry and joinery Apprenticeship at the centre.
“I really was the first one through the door,” Aaron says. “Working on site is very different from the work you do at the centre. There is more pressure on you, which is good,” he says. Aaron admits to preferring the practical side of the course to the theoretical aspects but adds: “It’s a career job. So you have to stick with it. You just get your head down and get the work done.”
Jonathan Hill is 17 years old and lives in Hayes, not far from the airport. He began an FMA in carpentry and joinery in March 2004, at the HCTC. With a group of just over 20 other trainees he undertakes a mixture of theory and practical work, health and safety instruction covering, among other things, the proper use of personal protective equipment, and basic skills including maths.
“I have been interested in carpentry for a while,” says Jonathan. His father is a carpenter and Jonathan decided that he would like to follow suit. “It’s a good trade to get into and it’s a good course. T5 is one of the reasons I wanted to do it. There are a lot of good prospects off a job of that scale.” Jonathan foresees continuing through to the completion of his AMA and gaining management experience to help develop his career chances.
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