Construction giant Laing O’Rourke launches ‘step change’ for new generation of apprentices with ConstructionSkills
Laing O’Rourke today announced a significant overhaul of its apprenticeship programme to assist the economic recovery in UK construction.
In partnership with ConstructionSkills, Laing O’Rourke’s ambitious new programme - ‘Apprenticeship Plus’ - will see current apprentice intake levels rise by 200 later this year with a further 800 to follow through engagement with commercial partners across Laing O’Rourke’s supply chain – and the long-term expansion of the Group.
Ray O’Rourke, Laing O’Rourke’s Chairman and Chief Executive, described the initiative as a “step-change for this industry”. He said: “As a Group, we have a clear vision to challenge and change the image of construction.
We see the current economic backdrop as a time to identify opportunities – and there is no better time and opportunity than now to invest in the future, and bring about long-term transformation of skills capability in this industry”.
Recruits to Laing O’Rourke’s Apprenticeship Plus – a full-time skills and learning programme – will learn through a mix of practical skills training and formal industry education in all aspects of modern engineering, manufacturing and constructing. This will be an accredited programme lasting four years.
ConstructionSkills’ Chief Executive, Mark Farrar, welcomed Laing O’Rourke’s initiative as Apprenticeship Plus was unveiled at the Group’s Kent headquarters.
“In our role as a leading Sector Skills Council, we are looking strategically at the long-term future of apprenticeships to ensure they support the industry’s future skills needs. This joint venture with Laing O’Rourke is one of the first tangible outcomes of this work, and we anticipate it will deliver tailor-made new recruits which meet their requirements.”
Mr Farrar added: “Laing O’Rourke has a long track record of delivering on its commitments to skills in this industry and this announcement is a welcome and timely boost to this important agenda”.
Messages of support for the new initiative have already been received from several of Laing O’Rourke’s commercial partners. Today’s announcement follows a commitment by Government to lift the number of apprentices involved in the school redevelopment programme, Building Schools for the Future, and other significant commitments to increase apprentice levels, announced during National Apprenticeship Week.
Paddy O’Rourke, Laing O’Rourke’s Director of Education, said it was “vitally important” Laing O’Rourke kept its focus on developing talent for the future. “The aim is to build both capability and capacity in construction, training people in the crafts for the construction industry of the future.”
He went on: “We value our relationships with our supply chain partners and others, particularly those who have adopted our strategic partnership approach ‘Building Constructive Relationships’.
We have been collaborating with the team at ConstructionSkills for some time, and all of us are driving forward to ensure we deliver on our commitments to the talent of tomorrow. There is no wiser investment”.
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