Gleeson celebrates National Apprenticeship Week
The 10 – 16 February 2025 is National Apprenticeship Week, and here at Gleeson, we will be using this opportunity to celebrate and share the experiences of five apprentices from across the business.
This awareness week provides an excellent opportunity for businesses across all industries to recognise and celebrate the importance of apprenticeships and the positive impact they have in allowing employees to upskill and develop in their careers. Investing in apprenticeships at Gleeson helps us bring in new talent and strengthen those sought-after skills required within the industry in which we operate.
As part of our apprenticeship programme, we are proud to continue our collaborative work with the NHBC Training Hub in Hull. Working closely with the NHBC, our bricklaying apprenticeships can experience real-life working conditions alongside their studies; helping to further develop their skills and confidence, providing strong career foundations.
“We are proud to currently have 47 valued apprentices working in a variety of roles at Gleeson. Apprenticeships not only help to bridge the industry skills shortage gap that exists across our business and the construction industry but also strengthen our future talent pipeline. All of this combined allows us to strive for growth whilst offering a working environment in which our people can thrive and enjoy a fulfilling career."
Speaking to several of our apprentices, we asked them what inspired them to choose an apprenticeship, the skills they have developed, their future aspirations and what advice they would give to anyone considering an apprenticeship.
Here’s what they had to say:
Layla Atkinson, Apprentice Bricklayer
What inspired you to take the apprenticeship route over other career paths?
I wanted to learn practical skills through gaining hands-on experience while earning an income. I have always had a passion and interest in bricklaying and therefore, this felt like the best path to a stable, fulfilling career and a great alternative to a traditional academic route.
How do you balance your work responsibilities with studies and training?
I balance work and training by creating a schedule that includes time for both. I prioritise my tasks, break them into smaller goals, and use any free time to stay on top of my studies. Communicating transparently with my employer also helps if I need any flexibility or help. This enables me to take care of myself whilst also ensuring I manage my workload effectively.
David Evans, Information Communications Technician
What motivated you to pursue an apprenticeship at this stage in your career?
I had been away from the IT trade for around six years and had therefore lost touch with what was current technologies. IT is something that I still had a lot of interest in and therefore, taking this career path enabled me to update my skills whilst being employed.
Since completing your apprenticeship what support and opportunities have you experienced?
Completing the apprenticeship helped me get back up to speed with current technology, broaden my knowledge, and improve my soft skills. Since completing it, Gleeson has supported me with opportunities like the ITIL Foundation V4 course. The most rewarding part was successfully completing the course and becoming a full-time member within the IT department.
Abbie Townsend, Technical Apprentice
What skills have you developed as part of your apprenticeship?
I've gained so much confidence and improved my computer skills. I haven't started college yet, but I'm looking forward to having dedicated time for it and all the skills and learning that will also come from this part of apprenticeship.
What advice would you give to other individuals considering an apprenticeship?
I really encourage anyone considering an apprenticeship to go for it, especially if they find a company that invests in them such as Gleeson. My goal is to take every opportunity and go as far as I can in my career.
Ellis Ball, Apprentice Bricklayer
What skills have you developed as part of your apprenticeship?
Starting an apprenticeship has helped me improve many transferable skills, both in teamwork and working independently. It's not always easy—you need a lot of patience and resilience when things don't go as planned. However, the on-the-job learning and support from colleagues who have been in your shoes make it worth it.
What are your future goals and aspirations?
My goal is to complete my Level 2 qualification and then move onto Level 3. Long-term, I would like to join a team of bricklayers and continue developing in my career from there.
Lewis Ronan, Apprentice Bricklayer
What advice would you give to anyone who is considering an apprenticeship within the industry?
Listen and learn to the experience of others while gaining your own experience. Always push yourself and take it in your stride, but don't rush into anything. Learning a trade, it is important to take your time and do it at the right then speed – this will help achieve quality results. Finally, when you show willingness to continually learn and develop, your colleagues will be happy to help you when support is required.
What are your future goals and aspirations?
I've just finished my Level 2 bricklaying qualification, and I am now working on Level 3. After that, I hope to move into sub-contracting or look for a Trainee Assistant Site Manager course. Eventually, I want to move into construction management because it really interests me, and I think I'd enjoy it.
At Gleeson, we continually encourage everyone to consider how apprenticeships can help individuals to develop the skills and knowledge required for a rewarding career, and employers to build a workforce with future-ready skills and we’re proud to be supporting National Apprenticeship Week 2025. To find out more about careers at Gleeson and the opportunities available, visit our dedicated page here.
