Redrow, the leading housebuilder, has been recognised at the National Apprenticeship Awards as a Top 100 Apprenticeship Employer for a record fifth year in a row. With over 1,000 entries to the awards each year from a wide-range of industries, competition to make the Top 100 is fierce. It is understood that Redrow is one of the few businesses to achieve this feat. The awards - now in their 14th year - are run by the National Apprenticeship Service (NAS) and celebrate the most innovative employers delivering apprenticeships across the country.
Redrow’s award-winning apprenticeship and trainee schemes are industry-leading and in 2017 alone 353 trainees joined its workforce, a 19% increase on 2016. As a member of the 5% Club, Redrow is committed to having apprentices, graduates or sponsored students make up at least 5% of the workforce in the next five years. In practice, the business already goes far beyond this and 17% of the total workforce are trainees.
Redrow is also committed to supporting more women into the construction industry. Almost a quarter of trainees – 22% – are female – significantly higher than the National House-Building Council’s (NHBC) industry average of 14%. Redrow’s apprentices can pursue training across all parts of the business including quantity surveying, designing, civil engineering as well as other skilled roles on site and in Redrow’s offices across the country.
Karen Jones, Group HR Director at Redrow and Trustee at the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB), comments: “We are proud that our hard work to develop the next generation of construction industry workers and equip existing colleagues with the skills needed to succeed in the sector has been recognised at the National Apprenticeship Awards for a fifth year in a row. Redrow has a long-term commitment to delivering apprenticeships in a strategic way and we are pleased to be commended.
“Our award-winning apprenticeship training enables new entrants into the housebuilding industry to develop the aptitude, attitude and skills needed to succeed in a fast moving and competitive sector. Our apprenticeship offer encompasses the whole business. This ensures that young people have the opportunity to kick-start their careers and progress in the role that they are best suited for, from highly skilled trades on site to working in our head office.”
Elizabeth Gibbs, Painting and Decorating Apprentice at Redrow, comments: “I have loved every minute of my apprenticeship at Redrow and it’s great to learn the business’ apprenticeship programmes are recognised outside the industry too. I couldn’t have hoped to join a better team to learn my trade. I am out on site developing my skills every day and my peers and teachers have been so welcoming and taught me so much. Once I’ve completed my qualifications in painting and decorating I hope to continue my career with the business and progress into management.”
Nurturing the next generation of construction industry talent has been central to Redrow’s business since inception. Founder and Chairman Steve Morgan CBE is passionate about supporting more young people into the sector and recently met with Redrow apprentices and graduates to learn about their career aspirations and to answer any questions they have about the business. With Redrow CEO, John Tutte, chairing the Home Building Skills Partnership and Karen Jones, Group HR Director, serving as a Trustee at the CITB the business is using its experience to help shape skills training in the wider housebuilding industry too.
If you are interested in pursuing a career at Redrow please visit: https://www.redrowplc.co.uk/careers/working-at-redrow/
