Builders Merchants Journal – BMJ Publishing to Builders Merchants and the UK merchanting industry for more than 95 years
With National Apprenticeship Week starting yesterday (February 6), Travis Perkins Group,has celebrated its 1,000th apprentice graduate following the introduction of the apprenticeship levy and reforms in 2017.
Travis Perkins plc is committed to developing the next generation of the UK construction workforce, through LEAP, its “Learn and Earn” Apprenticeship Programme, which provides high quality, tailored learning experiences for its own colleagues as well as those from companies operating across the construction supply chain.
David Hood, a Category Assistant at CCF; the Group’s insulation and interior building business, is the 1,000th apprentice. He says: “I am over the moon to be the 1,000th apprentice graduate and grateful to the team for supporting me throughout the process. The programme has massively developed my business skills, enabled me to do more for our customers and I enjoyed learning with colleagues from across the group. No matter age or profession, I would absolutely recommend taking up the opportunity to do an apprenticeship.”
Travis Perkins plc CEO Nick Roberts, adds: “As our own experience demonstrates, apprenticeships are a fantastic way to help upskill our colleagues, build a more diverse workforce for the future and unlock sustainable growth in the built environment and the UK economy more widely; be that through retrofitting the UK’s older housing stock or more broadly to improve the energy efficiency of the built environment. We welcome the current focus on skills from both the Government and Opposition to boost the economy and to help the UK deliver its Net Zero ambitions. As a major apprenticeship provider, we will be engaging with both parties to contribute to these policy discussions. Now more than ever, Government and industry must come together to accelerate the development of new skills that are urgently required to deliver on these challenges and unlock their significant economic potential.”
Emma Rose, Chief HR Officer at Travis Perkins plc, explains that, in 2022, the group opened up the Apprenticeship Programme to the wider industry to help build the next generation of talent across the sector, unlocking sustainable growth within the TP business and construction more widely. “We are extremely proud of David and all our apprenticeship graduates. Our is industry leading and continues to go from strength to strength,” she says.
Andy Rayner, Director of Apprenticeships at Travis Perkins plc, adds: “I am delighted that Travis Perkins Group has reached the milestone of our 1,000th apprentice. This programme provides participants with the skills needed to deliver a construction industry that is fit for the future. This milestone is a testament to the hard work that Travis Perkins plc has done to allow people of all backgrounds to build their career in the construction industry.”
