Leading North West family-owned contractor, Seddon, has recruited 16 new apprenticeships to its workforce. The move, which demonstrates the business's commitment to bridging the industry’s skills shortage, increases its apprenticeship numbers to a total of 60 employed across its workforce. Together, apprentices will gain first-hand experience in the construction industry from a contractor who has been trading for 127 years.
The intake includes joinery, bricklaying, painting and decorating, plastering, multi-skilled, electrical, plumbing and trainee quantity surveyor roles. Seddon’s comprehensive recruitment process has resulted in almost a third of the successful candidates being women—a significant achievement in a traditionally male-dominated industry. The 16 recruited apprenticeships were selected from a highly competitive pool of over 1,200 applicants, resulting in the program being 75 times oversubscribed. Additionally, Seddon has facilitated the placement of a further 12 apprentices within its supply chain partners, bringing the total impact to 28 new apprenticeship opportunities.
During the immersive induction week, designed to introduce them to Seddon's values and operational practices, they took part in a two-day community project. This involved contributing to real-world initiatives in Bolton and Wigan - this year at Greenslate Community Farm in Wigan and Bolton CVS offices. This hands-on approach not only provides valuable experience but also reinforces Seddon's commitment to making a positive impact on the communities in which it operates. Following the induction, apprentices have now embarked on structured training programs at local colleges and universities, ensuring they receive both practical skills and industry-recognised qualifications.
Olivia Hardy, trainee quantity surveyor comments: “I have really enjoyed my time so far at Seddon, especially the two community days we took part in. We volunteered at a local community farm and helped with painting and decorating at a charity hub. It was incredibly rewarding and really brought us apprentices together as a team. I now see first-hand why Seddon puts such a big emphasis on social value, and I'm excited to get involved in more community projects in the future.”
Seddon has successfully recruited more than 460 apprentices (level 2/3 and level 6) over the past 23 years, with an impressive 97% retention rate. These efforts were commended last year by its achievement of the highest level of recognition from The 5% Club for its outstanding dedication to the professional growth and development of its employees.
Nicola Hodkinson, owner of Seddon said: “As the industry grapples with a critical skills shortage, bringing in apprentices is more crucial than ever to bridge the gap. We're proud our 2024 apprentice cohort has chosen to kickstart their careers at Seddon, where individuality is celebrated. I’m especially delighted to see many female applicants this year—a promising sign that women are increasingly making their mark in this industry.”
Forecasts from CIOB state that an extra 251,500 workers will be required to meet UK construction output by 2028 – equating to 53,200 each year. Seddon's efforts to tackle this shortage don't stop at its front door. This year 12 apprentices found roles within Seddon's supply chain – passing on promising candidates to partners when they can't take them on themselves. Working in tandem with CITB, Seddon has successfully secured £70K in college funding, empowering several of its supply chain to become apprentice employers for the first time. The contractor has also facilitated three pre-employability programmes, benefiting a total of 51 learners, and generating 17 employment opportunities for trainees.
For more information about Seddon's apprenticeship program and career opportunities, visit: https://seddon.co.uk/join-the-team/apprentices