Apprenticeships Highlighted During Ministerial Visit
05 Apr 2016

South Devon College recently welcomed Nick Boles MP, Minister of State jointly for the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills and the Department for Education, where he met a Linden Homes apprentice and Galliford Try Chairman, Greg Fitzgerald.

Mr Boles visited South Devon College as part of his UK tour during National Apprenticeship Week, to see first-hand the work of leading further education colleges and talk to apprentices, staff and employers.

He spoke with Toby Bond, 17, a carpentry apprentice from Linden Homes, part of the Galliford Try Group. The company launched a specialised training and education hub (with National Skills Academy for Construction status) at White Rock in Paignton last year, with support from South Devon College, enabling schools, trainees and apprentices to learn key trades.

Greg Fitzgerald has climbed the ranks since he began his career as an apprentice, and also had the opportunity to talk with Mr Boles during his visit. He commented: “National Apprenticeship Week provides a fantastic opportunity for us to showcase the excellent work taking place on our sites while giving young people an insight into what a career in construction has to offer.

“Across Linden Homes we currently have 220 apprentices through the supply chain, who are mainly site based and specialise in drylining, groundworks, tiling, scaffolding, plastering, bricklaying and carpentry. A further 70 apprentices are directly employed by the company and include technical apprentices, infrastructure surveyors and construction management. We also employ 123 graduates throughout the regions and have pledged to create more apprenticeships within our company.

“I’m incredibly passionate about young people having the opportunities that I had and getting a skill under your belt will set you up for life for a career in construction and housebuilding.”

-ENDS-

Media can contact Emma Mackay on 01626 356666 or 07738312960 for more information, images and interviews with Linden Homes.

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