Midlands housing developer Lovell has recruited six new management trainees and apprentices to help deliver its growing portfolio of projects across the region.
The Halesowen-based company has taken on two Site Management Trainees, two Management Trainees who will work towards Higher Apprenticeships in Construction Management, an Apprentice Bricklayer and an Apprentice Carpenter. Three existing apprentices are also moving on to study for their advanced NVQ Level 3 qualifications with the company’s support.
Lovell‘s Midlands Regional Training Advisor Kelly Truman said: “Developing a pool of skilled construction professionals has always been central to our strategy. It’s an investment in our future, allowing us to build the workforce we need and an important contribution to the prosperity of local communities, opening up valuable career opportunities for talented and motivated individuals to acquire potentially life-changing skills and qualifications.
“We’re also helping the industry as a whole at a time when there are increasing concerns about the shortage of skilled labour. With an ageing workforce and the potential effects of Brexit, investment in training and encouraging more young people into the business are even more of a priority.”
Industry training body CITB forecasts that growing workloads are set to create 14,000 construction jobs in the West Midlands over the next five years.
The company’s new recruits include Josh Ball from Tamworth and Michael Quinlan from Shirley, Solihull. Both are being sponsored by Lovell to work towards a Foundation Degree at the University of Wolverhampton, combining studying on a day-release basis with working as part of the company team. As members of the company’s management trainee programme, they will gain experience across the company’s departments over the next two years before choosing to specialise. Both Josh and Michael already have significant construction-related experience.
Josh, previously a self-employed Electrician, commented: “I applied to Lovell because I knew they welcomed applications from people who were not necessarily graduates but had my kind of industry experience. As a management trainee, I’ll have the chance to get a thorough grounding in Construction Management, from the initial concept for a scheme to the aftercare process following the completion of a development.
“I know that a lot of Lovell management trainees go on to senior management roles with the company and that’s very exciting. I’ve got high hopes for my future, especially with the amount of support that Lovell provides.”
Michael added: “I’d worked as a self-employed carpenter for about seven years and was looking for an opportunity to step up to the next level. This is the perfect way to do it. I knew I wanted to go into management but wasn’t sure which area to pursue. Through Lovell’s Management Trainee programme, I’ll have the opportunity to try different business roles to help me decide which to specialise in.”
Lovell’s new Midlands apprentices and trainees are pictured above alongside current apprentices. In the back row, from left to right, are new Management Trainees Michael Quinlan and Josh Ball; Lovell Regional Training Advisor Kelly Truman; Craft Training Supervisor Dave Jones; and new Site Management Trainees Alex Simpson and Arash Khayatzadeh. In the front row, from left to right, are NVQ Level 3 Apprentices Jake Beasley and Dale Flute; new Apprentice Dan Reid and NVQ Level 3 Apprentice Scott Kelly.
