Builders Merchants Journal – BMJ Publishing to Builders Merchants and the UK merchanting industry for more than 95 years
To mark its 50th trading anniversary merchant buying society NMBS has launched the NMBS 50th Commemorative Modern Apprenticeship Scheme.
This is designed to help and assist some of the potential “lost generation” of young people who are currently struggling to find useful employment in what are still very difficult times.
NMBS has made a pledge to work with its members to introduce an Apprentice scheme that will ensure at least 50 new apprentices will be taken on as employees in 2013 in its 50th year.
NMBS are calling the apprenticeship scheme “A Young Enterprise 50” scheme and it will primarily be focusing on 16-18 year olds, however the scheme does cover all young people up to the age of 24.
The scheme will be run on behalf of NMBS by a company called Didac.
The scheme is simple to run:
Allen said: “The good news is that if the merchant hasn’t had an apprentice in the last 12 months and has less than 1000 employees they are also eligible for a £1500 grant per apprentice.
“In essence merchants can gain a full time member of staff formally trained on their premises but at a lower cost and all the training for under 18 year olds is totally free of charge.
“NMBS as well as guiding and mentoring the scheme will also provide special one-off events for the participants to retain our involvement and to try and give some of these participants a platform to launch their careers.”
Allen urged members to consider taking on an apprentice for the scheme. “We know the financials make sense and more than that, members will be positively contributing to the future generation of builders and plumbers merchants and our industry as a whole.”
Allen asked for help in smashing through the target of 50 Apprentices in 2013.
“I am delighted to tell you that as of today, we already have 10 signed up, which is a great start. I look forward to the day when one of these apprentices is sitting on our Board because that has got to be out future.”
