Hugh Baird College’s Apprenticeship Team hosted the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) this week as they take steps to secure the future of the 1,400 Carillion apprentices left without employment following the firm’s collapse.
Merseyside and Cheshire have the largest number of Carillion apprentices to place and CITB invited all 235 of them to attend an event at Hugh Baird College’s Port Academy Liverpool campus. Together with the National Careers Service and Connexions, CITB staff spoke to all of the apprentices to assess their level and apprenticeship requirements and discuss the available opportunities for continuing their training.
Assistant Principal – Workskills and Business Development at Hugh Baird College, Vicky Edwards, said:
“The collapse of Carillion must be a devastating blow for all of the employees and their families. For those employees enrolled on apprenticeship programmes, it means that their training is stalled at a vital time on their career path. Hugh Baird College are very keen to support the apprentices and ensure that they can continue their education. Thanks to our longstanding partnership with CITB and extensive links with employers across the region, we are confident that we can work together to help place as many apprentices as possible.”
Joinery apprentices, Cameron Dever and Reece Kelly, were two of the Carillion apprentices who attended the CITB event. Reece said:
“Until we came today, we didn’t know what was going to happen but CITB have enabled us to carry on with our apprenticeship and finish our qualifications.”
Sarah Beale, Chief Executive of the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB), said:
“We understand it’s a very worrying time for the young people who were on the Carillion apprenticeship programme, but we can help them restart their training and get their careers back on track if they get in touch with us. Our industry needs the skills these young people are developing and we want to help them find new employers and get their qualifications.”
As one of the leading providers of apprenticeship training in the Liverpool and Merseyside area, Hugh Baird College offers a wide range of apprenticeship programmes, from plumbing and electrical to joinery and brickwork. Apprentices work and earn, alongside gaining an industry-recognised qualification in their chosen industry, often by attending college one day a week.
If you would like to find out more about apprenticeships at Hugh Baird College, please contact the Business Development Team on 0151 353 4444.
If you are a Carillion apprentice and have been affected by this news, please contact CITB via telephone or email for the latest information and guidance: 0344 994 4010 or carillion.apprenticeshipsupport@citb.co.uk