M. Lambe Construction, a groundworks and civil engineering company, is delighted to announce it has strengthened its apprenticeship scheme through its investment in Premier Training College.

The training centre is in collaboration with Thoughts of Others, a respected provider of care and education services in Birmingham, and will enable the specialist to develop its own tailored training and apprenticeship programmes and provide young job seekers with the practical experience and skills needed to pursue a full-time career in the construction industry.

Michael Lambe, Director, M. Lambe Construction, said: “Last year, the Department for Education estimated that 9,000 people aged between 16-24 and living in the West Midlands were classed as not in education, employment or training (NEET). Successful businesses like ours have a moral duty to provide young people with more opportunities and offer them the start in life they deserve.”

The Birmingham based business currently employs 32 young apprentices and trainees working across various stages of education and development within the business, with 15 joining in the last 12-months.

“Our apprentices receive invaluable ‘on the job training’ by an experienced mentor, along with practical theory in a classroom. We now have an opportunity to really develop a high quality programme that adds value to their education and fully prepares them to work on one of our construction sites.”

With an estimated 200,000 new construction jobs required over the next 5-years, the investment will ensure the specialist is also doing its part in tackling the skills shortage by attracting the next generation of talent into the industry.

“The construction industry has known for some time the skills shortage needs addressing, but major infrastructure schemes, like HS2 and Hinckley Point C are going to put an additional strain on human resources. If we are serious about staying apace with the Government’s growth plans and the upsurge in the housing sector, it is essential more is done to encourage younger people to take up a career in construction.”

Premier Training College is a vocational college and a Birmingham Adult Education Service subcontractor, set up to offer learners with full time education and apprenticeship courses. Along with construction, its course schedule includes: hair & barbering, childcare & early years, English functional skills and Health & Social Care.