Four apprentices are enjoying a flying start to their careers after joining Loughborough-based housebuilder William Davis Homes.
Dominic Heardman, Joshua Ford, Kieran Moulds and Sam Flavell are all busy learning the ropes at Skylarks, Chesterfield where the award winning developer is building a collection of two- to five-bedroom Homes at Dunston Lane.
All four were hired after William Davis Homes entered into a Planning Condition Agreement with Chesterfield Borough Council and Chesterfield College to provide apprentice placements in three key skills; bricklaying, site joinery and site electrician.
As a result, Dominic and Joshua are training to be joiners, Kieran a bricklayer and Sam an electrician, with all four being mentored on site by apprentice mentors whilst also attending Chesterfield College one day a week to achieve a minimum NVQ Level 2.
The initiative is the result of the council’s commitment to ensuring local people benefit from jobs and training opportunities created by developments such as Skylarks and Gary Long, Apprentice Manager at William Davis Homes, says it’s paying dividends all round.
He said: “The work ethic of these lads is brilliant. They feel privileged to be given this opportunity, so they’re putting the effort in, resulting in good quality apprentices producing quality work.”
David Higham, Commercial Director at Learning Unlimited, part of the Chesterfield College Group, said: “The success of the apprenticeship scheme all comes down to developing quality partnerships and this is a superb example. Not only are the lads learning vital skills, there is clear career progression laid out for them and a commitment from William Davis Homes to support them long term. It’s not just about giving apprentices a head-start in their careers but about everyone involved working together to help create the workforce for the future.”
Image Caption: Chesterfield College Commercial Director David Higham, apprentice joiner Josh Ford, apprentice electrician Sam Flavell, Chesterfield Borough Council Councillor Terry Gilby, apprentice joiner Dom Heardman, apprentice bricklayer Kieran Moulds and William Davis Homes Apprentice Manager Gary Long.
