Pride of place for flooring apprentice
A FORMER president of the Contract Flooring Association, Hamish MacGregor, attended the 2011 National Specialist Contractors Council (NSCC) annual with one of his apprentices, Andrew Shaw. Hamish is also a former president of the NSCC.
The occasion marked the launch of the NSCC apprenticeship roll of honour to recognise those businesses in the specialist sector that invest in apprenticeships. Special guests at the event, attended by over 180, included the editor of CFJ Alan Bakalor. The CFA had a significant contingent led by ceo Richard Catt and president
John Butler.
The Roll of Honour features more than 55 NSCC member bodies who are enjoying the benefits of employing an apprentice, including a reduction in skills gaps, the ability to keep pace with the latest technology and a more motivated and productive workforce.
The attendance of a group of apprentices was seen as a way of showcasing the commitment of employers and the high standard of skill and professionalism that their apprentices achieve.
The champagne reception and 3-course lunch was held at the prestigious Institute of Directors in London,
supported by B&CE, Bibby Financial Services, Bridge Insurance, Bunzl Greenham, ConstructionSkills, CSCS, Cut the Carbon, Safety Services (UK) and Wedlake Bell.
Each apprentice received a contribution to their pension fund from B&CE and NSCC and a high quality range of PPE provided by Bunzl Greenham. The guest speaker was former England rugby player Martin Bayfield who praised the industry for continuing to invest in new talent during the recession.
NSCC chief executive Suzannah Nichol MBE commented: ‘Apprentices are the industry’s future workforce and they have an essential role in the recovery of the construction industry and the UK economy as a whole. NSCC and its members are committed to the continued delivery of apprenticeships in the specialist sector and we expect the number of businesses featured on the Roll of Honour to grow as more employers recognise the benefits of employing an apprentice.’
The Government confirmed its support for apprenticeships with the announcement of a £250m fund to encourage employers to invest in training including support for up to 20,000 new apprenticeships in 2012/13.
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