Apprenticeships are a growing force 

With the role of apprenticeships growing in meeting our ever-changing skills needs, Janette Welton-Pai explains why we’re upskilling more and more of our people through this route.

Apprenticeships provide a fantastic route to attract and develop people.

There remains a lingering misperception that apprenticeships are only for teenagers who are looking for their first job. That’s changing.

Our approach to apprenticeships has evolved in recent years. Thanks to funding from the Apprenticeship Levy, we can access an array of apprenticeships that support upskilling and progression throughout a career.

Tackling a growing skills crisis

It is particularly important that we attract and upskill people.

According to figures by the CITB in 2024, 251,000 people are forecast to be needed in the construction sector by 2028. That equates to an increase of over 50,000 people per year over the five years from 2024 – 2028 to meet anticipated industry output.

Many of our management trainees are now registered for apprenticeships instead of a traditional degree course. These include apprenticeships in:

  • Construction Site Management
  • Chartered Surveying
  • Quantity Surveying
  • Construction Site Supervision

Completing a level 6 degree apprenticeship means the trainee still achieves the same degree as they would traditionally have done. However, an apprenticeship route means this is delivered in a more cost-effective way with a wider package of support. In 2024 we also registered trainees for apprenticeships in Sustainability Business Specialist and Professional Risk and Safety Management among others for the first time.

Mid-career apprenticeships

Apprenticeships are helping our people develop skills to drive their own careers. Nine will shortly complete their level 3 data driven apprenticeship which is being delivered by Corndel and Imperial College Business School. We also have people registered for the level 4 Data Analyst apprenticeship. These two data-focussed apprenticeships support our commitment to use data to its full potential.

Everyone is unique and apprenticeships help our people achieve their potential. This year we’re offering apprenticeships that include Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability Practitioner at level 4 and Coaching professional at level 5.

Recognition

Our investment in upskilling saw Willmott Dixon awarded Platinum by the 5% club in its 2024 – 2025 Employer Audit, recognising that over 10% of our team are in hands-on ‘earn and learn’ schemes.

So National Apprenticeship Week is a timely reminder of the important role they play in our company with recruitment, developing potential, supporting career mobility and retaining talent. They turbo-charge how we plug our future skills gaps and adapt to the changing needs of our company.