The Week, which is organised by the National Apprenticeship Service (NAS), is an annual celebration of the talents and skills of apprentices. The week sees apprentices, their employers and providers come together to raise the profile of Apprenticeships amongst employers, learners, parents, stakeholders and the media.
The construction industry has a long tradition of training apprentices and the CCATF aims to increasing employer engagement in apprenticeship training further by championing the culture and ethos of training in the construction industry.
CCATF members represent businesses from right across the industry. Many have been involved in the 2011 National Apprenticeship Week in order to highlight the skills, enthusiasm and motivation that apprentices can bring to the workplace.
National Apprenticeship Week 2011 highlights
Catherine McKinnell MP is an apprentice for the day with J.D. Joinery in Newcastle
In the run up to National Apprenticeship Week, CITB-ConstructionSkills and the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) invited Catherine McKinnell, MP for Newcastle North, to visit a live construction project in Newcastle to experience life as an apprentice for the day. Whilst onsite Catherine McKinnell MP tried her hand at a range of activities including bricklaying, roofing and new fascias on a large house extension, as well as experiencing first-hand the skills needed to work with modern ‘green’ technologies.
ConstructionSkills Deputy Chair becomes an apprentice with Hadley Shopfitters
Judy Lowe, Deputy Chair of CITB-ConstructionSkills, also tried to reveal a bit more about what it means to be an apprentice during National Apprenticeship Week by becoming an apprentice at Hadley Shopfitters in Portsmouth, where at least half of the workforce have been through aprenticeships, including three of the directors. The result was first-hand experience of how apprentices add real value to the industry.
To watch a film of Judy Lowe’s apprenticeship challenge on the Building website click here.
Seddon Group’s Roy Cavanagh MBE becomes Apprenticeship Ambassador
CCATF member Roy Cavanagh MBE has become a member of the North West Apprenticeship Ambassadors Network. Roy is the Training Manager at Seddon Group and last year chaired the UKGC Apprenticeship Task Group. He was awarded an MBE in 2010 for his services to the industry. The North West Apprenticeship Ambassadors Network is a group of senior business leaders set up to make the business case for apprenticeships and to promote the benefits of recruiting apprentices among industry colleagues.
Olympic Delivery Authority commendation for BAM Nutall
Civil engineering company BAM Nutall has received a special commendation from the Olympic Delivery Authority for creating opportunities for 23 apprentices at the Olympic Park as part of the London 2012 Apprenticeship Programme.
Future Events
WorldSkills 2011
WorldSkills London 2011 will take place at ExCeL London from 5th – 8th October 2011. It is the world's largest, international skills competition where young people from across the globe compete to become the best of the best in their chosen skill.
Visit website: www.worldskillslondon2011.com
