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Our latest Apprentices qualify

Monday, 8 June 2009

Former Telford schoolboys Michael Burton (19), Grant Dawson (19), Ben Riley (17) and Callum Troy (19) are following in the footsteps of Matt Lowerson , one of the first apprentices employed by McPhillips.

The quartet received their NVQ Level 2 certificates from Joint MD Nicholas McPhillips, who praised their efforts in completing the apprenticeship – a two year sandwich course at the National Construction College (NCC-Midlands) at Kings Norton in Birmingham and on site putting their new skills into practice.

During the course they were taught tarmacing, concreting, kerb laying, block paving, pipe laying, scaffolding, shoring of trenches, bricklaying and full road construction. They also gained the nationally recognised CPCS card (Construction Plant Competence Scheme) to operate small items of plant including site dumpers and ride on rollers.

 As part of the course they gained certificates in First Aid and Confined Spaces. With their NVQ LEVEL 2 qualification they received their Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS card), a nationally recognised proof of competence throughout the construction industry.

“This training scheme gives these young people a great start in life. With these qualifications they can work on any construction site in the country,” said Nicholas.

“The training they have received is a great foundation for them and will give them a good future in the construction industry. We are a family firm and very proud to have many former apprentices still working for us and employees who have been with us for up to 35 years.”

Mr John Butler, director and safety executive, said that firms benefitted greatly from highly trained apprentices who learned “how to do the job right” and conform to industry standards.

“Young staff get many qualifications during their apprenticeships and at the end of it, the firm gets a very highly qualified individual. Many of our apprentices stay with us throughout their working lives - almost 20 per cent of the company’s 240 strong workforce have gone through the McPhillips apprenticeship scheme.”

One of McPhillips’s first apprentices is Matt Lowerson (29), who joined the firm after leaving school at 16 and is working his way towards being a foreman.

“You can’t do any better in the construction industry than completing an apprenticeship with McPhillips. They teach you everything you need and more to ensure you are one of the best skilled and qualified construction workers on any site in the UK.”

Michael Burton was awarded the Apprentice of the Year Award at NCC – Midlands last year, is now working on building a care home in Mansfield.

“The apprenticeship scheme is brilliant because it means you work for six weeks in the classroom and then straight onto a site, to put the theory into practice. There are people here to mentor you and teach you how to do the job right. It’s a good job to have,” said Michael.

Grant and Ben are employed completing five resurfacing contracts for Telford & Wrekin Council, including road alterations outside the new Madeley Academy, while Callum is working on groundwork preparation for a new hotel, offices and housing on the former NEC and Celestica site in Castle Farm Way, Priorslee.

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