In return, apprenticeships provide young people with a springboard onto the career ladder and valuable skills that last a lifetime.
Opportunity knocks
We took on 111 new apprentices nationally last year, who we are now supporting to gain recognised qualifications alongside ‘on-the-job’ experience. It’s an opportunity to earn while you learn and a solid platform for a successful career in construction.
Our trade apprenticeships cover a range of skills from bricklaying, electrics and plumbing to painting and decorating and joinery, but we also offer office-based apprenticeships including those within our technical, commercial and customer service departments.
What better way to explain the benefits of apprenticeships than to hear from some of our apprentices themselves?
Michael Kimberley – trainee quantity surveyor with Redrow NW
Michael, 20, from Wigan, is now a trainee quantity surveyor, having achieved his Level three apprenticeship and been ‘promoted’ to Level four.
Having completed his A-levels Michael came to a crossroads. He says: “I never really wanted to go to university. I didn’t want to end up with a student loan when I didn’t even know what course I wanted to do. There was no point doing sport science or history if I was never going to do anything with it.
“I wanted a career that would take me somewhere and would give me a steady path for progression.”
Quantity Surveying is a role which involves keeping track of money spent on site, making sure valuations are correct and inviting the correct suppliers to tender.
“I really enjoy it”, Michael says. “If I had gone to university and then gone on to be a quantity surveyor or something else to do with construction, I wouldn’t already have the benefit of nearly three years on-the-job experience, which is massive. I’m also earning while I’m learning which is ideal.
“I get on with the people I work with and who offer me so much support, and the split between work and college is great. I’m really happy with how I’ve progressed, and I’d like to keep on doing that, and climbing the career ladder.”
William O’Toole – joinery apprentice with Redrow Yorkshire
William, 19, is undertaking his joinery apprenticeship and is currently working between two Redrow developments around his hometown of Leeds. He attends Leeds College of Building every week, where he works on his practical skills in the college’s workshop. On site William works alongside a team of joiners, learning traditional carpentry skills as well as other aspects of building work.
“I have been working with Redrow since August last year and I will be on the course for three years, I’m really enjoying my time here,” says William.
“I had already completed my level one last year, when my tutor told me about this apprenticeship. I was performing well in my class, so it was a coveted apprenticeship.”
Gemma Malkin - admin apprentice with Redrow Midlands
Gemma works at our Midlands office in Tamworth as an admin apprentice and is currently working within the customer care department.
Gemma says: “To be a good apprentice you need to be outgoing and willing to learn. I work with so many people within my role, and I need to be able to talk to everyone.
“At the moment, I am working in the customer services team. It is incredibly rewarding when I get to support customers and give them help if needed.”
Steffan Calderbank – technical apprentice with Redrow South Wales
Rugby fanatic Steffan Calderbank scored his dream job with Redrow in September last year, having completed an NVQ Level 3 in electrical engineering at Coleg y Cymoedd.
Steffan says: “I’ve always had an interest in engineering and spent time watching new home developments being built near where I live. I found the whole process fascinating.
“As a five-star builder, Redrow has a great reputation and I know that I’m working with the very best in the industry. I’m learning new skills every day and it’s been a real eye-opener to see just how much effort goes in to building one house. From finding the land to designing the site, securing planning permission, building each home and the whole sales process, the customer is at the heart of everything we do. It really is a team effort, and everyone is so friendly that it makes learning easy.”
Luke Trigger – electrical apprentice with Redrow East Midlands
Among our East Midlands’ success stories is 22-year-old Luke, from Derby, who is currently in the final year of his electrician apprenticeship. Luke was named best apprentice in the East Midlands in 2019 for his willingness to go above and beyond, supporting his colleagues and learning new skills quickly.
Luke says: “After leaving college, I came to a crossroads in terms of deciding a career path. My grandad encouraged me to go into the property industry and look into doing an apprenticeship. I was living with him at the time, so that might be because he wanted an electrician to fix the lights for him, but it turned out that the main reason was because apprenticeships often lead to great, stable professions.
“I have learned a lot in the past four years. Redrow has given me all the tools I need to pursue a career in the property sector, and the team has even supported me to spend some time at Redrow’s developments in London to widen my experience. This will give me the skills to work across a variety of different house types and developments in the future.
“I’d encourage anyone to consider an apprenticeship as a route into work. The key to being a good apprentice is to act like a sponge – absorb as much knowledge as you can.”
How do I become an apprentice?
Our apprenticeships are open to anyone age 16 or over who would like to pursue a career in the fast-paced housebuilding industry.
Most apprenticeship applications start online. We ask applicants to complete an online form and upload a CV and covering letter. Candidates who reach the next stage will be invited for a telephone interview followed by a face-to-face interview.
For more information on Redrow’s apprenticeships, the current opportunities available or to apply for an apprenticeship see Redrow careers.
