Construction National

Housebuilder to take on 75 trainees to celebrate 75 years of apprentice scheme

To celebrate the 75th birthday of its apprentice scheme, construction and maintenance company Seddon Group is set to recruit 75 new apprentices and trainees in the UK this year.

At a time of record youth unemployment and as preparations get under way for the National Apprenticeship Week - from 6 to 10 February - Seddon says it is underlining its “continued commitment to bringing more young people into the industry and nurturing the next generation of construction professionals”.

Guests at a launch event to mark the start of the anniversary year and held at Seddon’s Stoke-on-Trent national apprentice training centre included representatives from CITB-Construction Skills and the UK Contractors Group. Along with a recruitment drive, the twelve months of celebrations will include workshops and seminars, school visits and careers events as well as charity community projects.

Seddon Group chairman Rod Sellers said: “Attracting talented youngsters into our industry is vital to the continued success of the company and an essential part of our business strategy.

“Investment in training ensures that we develop the next generation of talented people to drive our business and continue to take it forward.”

Seddon Group is one of the UK’s major privately owned construction companies with a £250 million annual turnover. Its members include Seddon Construction and painting and maintenance specialist Seddon Property Services.

Also present at the launch were a host of former apprentices and trainees who have gone on to senior positions with the company. Seddon apprentices have used their joinery and painting skills to refurbish an old horse-drawn wooden cart – used around the time that the company first began recruiting apprentices – which was on show at the launch celebrations alongside one of Seddon’s new eco-friendly electric vans.