Building firm to take on 58 new paid apprentices (From Daily Echo)

Building firm to take on 58 new paid apprentices

4:07pm Friday 20th July 2012 in Business By Matt Smith, Politics and business reporter

Alan Kilburn and Gordon Chapman from Carillion Construction which is looking for apprentices

THE construction firm behind Southampton newest secondary schools is set to take on 58 new paid apprentices next month.

Carillion, which runs a training centre in Millbrook , is offering the placements to out of work youngsters keen to learn a new trade in construction.

The firm, which has been building the new Oasis Academy schools in Lords Hill and Mayfield, said it had thirteen vacancies still to fill on its three-year apprenticeship schemes in bricklaying and carpentry, which start during August.

A further 45 apprenticeships will be available to start in November.

However training bosses are alarmed at a decline in the number of applicants in recent years despite Government initiatives to promote apprenticeships. They say they have had to come up with ever more inventive schemes to reach out for new recruits.

It comes as figures showthe number of 18-24-year-olds looking for work for at least six months has reached 2,230 in the Hampshire and Southampton areas, from 690 a year ago.

Apprentices will be paid attendance allowances of around £50 a week for the first 14 weeks before moving to training wages between £105 to £220 a week, depending on age, when placed on work sites.

The apprenticeships will lead to NVQ and Diploma qualicifications, up to level 3. Carillion believes around seven out of ten of its apprentices go into permanent jobs, and are given ongoing help to find work.

Carillion takes on over 1,000 apprentices each year across its 15 training centres, including 100 each year in Southampton.

News of the new apprentice intake comes as the Daily Echo continues the Give Me a Chance campaign.

We launched the initiative following a rise in the number of young unemployed people across Hampshire.

Through the paper we are giving young people who are looking for work a platform to showcase their skills and qualifications to future employers.

• You can contact Carillion via their website . If you would like to take part in the Daily Echo's Give Me A Chance campaign, email Patrick Knox .