As part of the Builder’s Merchants Federation’s (BMF) Youth Recruitment Campaign for 2018, its Apprenticeship Plus team is out in force this week using the platform provided by Apprenticeship Week to promote the merchant industry as a career choice for school and college leavers. The Apprenticeship Plus team is targeting 110 new apprenticeships to begin during 2018.
The round of exhibitions began on March 5, with the 3-day National Apprentice Show for London and the South East at Sandown Park, where the BMF team was joined by merchant staff from member companies, Lords Group and Richmonds of London, whose ability to give first-hand accounts working in the industry is said to have proved invaluable.
James Spillane, BMF training manager, said: “The show was attended by 20,000 school leavers, teachers and parents, so it was great for us to have people who are currently working in merchant companies on the stand as BMF Ambassadors to encourage the next generation of new starters into the industry. I think we opened many peoples’ eyes to the diversity of job roles available in the sector and the broad range of apprenticeships offered through the BMF scheme.”
Since launching its own Apprenticeship Training Agency (ATA) last year, the BMF has already supported over 60 builders’ merchants, helping them to access funds from the government’s latest apprenticeship levy and/or to recruit new apprentices.
Later this week the BMF will take part in the UK University and Apprenticeship Show at the King Power Stadium in Leicester. It will also be exhibiting at the National Apprenticeship Show in Milton Keynes on March 12-13.
The BMF is also actively encouraging the 1,400 trainees affected by Carillion’s demise to consider moving into the building materials industry, where there are opportunities for young people in all parts of the country.
