National Apprenticeship Week 2012 and the FMB
National Apprenticeship Week, which is organised by the National Apprenticeship Service (NAS), is an annual celebration of the talents and skills of apprentices. The week is all about raising the profile of apprenticeships amongst employers, individuals, teachers, parents and the media. Ultimately the aim is to ensure high quality apprenticeships continue to be used and valued by young people and UK businesses.
The construction industry has a long tradition of training apprentices and the FMB believes firmly in supporting businesses that invest in the future workforce by taking on and training apprentices. Each year the FMB and its members take part National Apprenticeship Week in order to highlight the business benefits of hiring an apprentice, and the important role of small businesses in the apprenticeship system.
See more photos from National Apprenticeship Week 2012 on Flickr.
Conor Burns MP with the team at Greendale Construction & the FMB's Neil McQue
Conor Burns MP and Greendale Construction
In the run up to National Apprenticeship Week 2012 Conor Burns, MP for Bournemouth West, Alderney and Branksome East, rolled up his sleeves to become a construction apprentice for the day with FMB member firm Greendale Construction.
Watch the video to hear Conor’s views on life as an apprentice.
Left to Right: Stephen Williams MP, Bristol West, Sam Brown, Apprentice Carpenter (Level 2), Distinction Property Services and Jordan Smith, Apprentice Carpenter (Level 2), Distinction Property Services
Stephen Williams MP takes on Apprentice Role to Support Builders in Bristol
Stephen Williams, MP for Bristol West, spent time with two carpentry apprentices from Federation of Master Builders (FMB) member firm Distinction Property Services Ltd to find out more about life as an apprentice.
Jason McCartney MP and Luke Kowalski at work
Jason McCartney MP and Peter Armitage Ltd
FMB member firm Peter Armitage Ltd is a family run building contractors based in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire. To mark National Apprenticeship Week 2012, the FMB invited local MP Jason McCartney to meet the firm's director and his apprentice Luke Kowalski. Read more.
June Davidson and Alex Brown at work
FMB Regional Directors take on apprentice roles to support builders
FMB regional representatives Helen Osgood and June Davidson also spent the day learning the trade the practical way by being an apprentice for the day with members in their region.
June Davidson, FMB Regional Manager for the Northern Counties, spent time shadowing Alex Brown, an apprentice at Macoun Construction in Newcastle upon Tyne. June got stuck in carrying out some important joinery tasks on a two storey extension and spoke to the firm's director Richard Weir about his firm's commitment to taking on young people teaching them a trade that they can rely on for the rest of their lives. Read more.
Helen Osgood and Jake Ball at work
Helen Osgood, FMB Regional Director for the Eastern Counties, became an apprentice with Princebuild in Peterborough. Helen shadowed Jake Ball, a plumbing apprentice, who was working on a refurbishment project at Stirling House in Cambridgeshire. Read more.
Read about the FMB’s involvement in National Apprenticeship Week 2011.
