New College Lanarkshire’s Construction Pre-Apprentices to gain work experience

New College Lanarkshire is sending 50 young construction students to experience work on the frontline of the industry as part of the college’s largest ever training placement scheme.

The Construction Pre-Apprentices aged between 16-24 will spend six weeks taking part in work experience with nearly 20 companies based in Lanarkshire and Glasgow. The businesses taking part in the scheme include some of the biggest names within the construction industry but also smaller local firms who help to demonstrate the skills of the would-be trade apprentices to potential employers.

Before starting their placements on site, all students have had to pass the Construction Skills Certification scheme (CSCS).

Kim Scanlin, Work Placement Coordinator for the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB), said: “This New College Lanarkshire initiative is an excellent example of how industry, colleges, local employers and the CITB are working together to ensure we get the right people into the industry and offer young people a rewarding career in construction.”

The Construction Pre-Apprentices will be able to gain skills in carpentry and joinery, painting and decorating, bricklaying, plumbing, construction drawing and health and safety.

Some of the projects that the students will be able to work on will include Graham Construction’s £18.6M 416-bed student accommodation project at St. James Road, Glasgow and at the new Greenfaulds High School in Cumbernauld, carrying out work for Morrison and Allied Interiors.

Martyn Campbell, Curriculum & Quality Leader (Construction), at New College Lanarkshire said: “We have been running the Pre Apprentice course for 10 years in different formats and it has had significant success in securing apprenticeships for students wanting a career in the manual construction trades.

“The fact that we have been able to send so many students on placement in 2016 highlights the strong relationship we have with employers and their confidence in the quality of basic training we provide.

“We know employers are very keen to offer apprenticeships to bright and motivated young people and so they will be watching the performance of students very closely over the next few weeks.

“We hope this exercise will allow employers to spot the potential of our students at first hand, while giving the students themselves valuable insight to day-to-day working life in the industry.”

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