The pledge to nurture future talent in Salford has been stepped up thanks to a new apprenticeship fund.
The Salford Skills For Business Apprenticeship Fund, which includes a number of public and private sector organisations, aims to unlock new talent and close the skills gap within the local area.
Salford City Council, along with Seddon, Apprenticeships at Salford City College, University of Salford, Bupa and Salix Homes, will be gifting up to £250,000 of apprenticeship training funding to local small and medium-sized organisations (under 250 employees).
The partnership has also secured a further £144,000 Greater Manchester Combined Authority funding to support a proportion of apprentices’ salary costs.
Seddon has engaged with the fund, as parts of its ongoing commitment to helping build the next generation of the construction workforce.
Kat Healey, Head of Learning and Development at Seddon, said why the fund is such a welcome initiative: “We’re delighted to be involved in this scheme, which aims to attract, develop and retain the best possible talent in the city. The fund will ultimately help people undertake relevant qualifications whilst improving their skills, capabilities and aspirations.
“A key element of the fund is how it will create opportunities for people of all ages, something we believe in strongly at Seddon. We have an entire department committed to our apprenticeship intake; it’s engrained in our culture and we are constantly looking at new ways of attracting a diverse group of talent into the industry.”
The organisation is dedicated to unlocking the potential of people of all ages and backgrounds. Seddon currently has 62 apprentices, including 27 trade apprenticeships and 30 Degree learners, with 15 studying at The University of Salford.
Kat added: “I don’t always believe the focus should be on getting the younger generation interested in construction. While this is an important cause, there isn’t a shortage of willing 16-19-year-olds on college courses.
“In fact, we should be ensuring that young people have the relevant and transferrable skills employers are actually looking for.
“Our team is committed to providing continuous onsite experience and mentorship, and we always train for retention. All of our apprentices receive a unique mentor during their time with us, as well as regular reviews with their line manager and the college. They’re trained on everything from lung safety on site to social media, and trade apprentices gain both intermediate and advanced level qualifications.
“The mix of practical experience alongside the theory is a winning formula and something we hope highlights Seddon’s passion for nurturing and developing the workforce of tomorrow.”
For more information about The Salford Skills for Business Fund visit the website: www.salford.gov.uk/apprenticeshipfund
For more information on apprenticeship roles within Seddon visit the website: https://www.seddon.co.uk/careers/