Graham Construction attempts to build workforce of tomorrow

Annabelle Ewing, MSP has heard from the future of the country’s construction industry as she visited a Graham Construction site as part of Scottish Apprentice Week.

The Minister for Youth and Women’s Employment spent the morning at the site for Royston Care Home, hearing from a number of young female apprentices employed by Graham.

Graham Construction is a member of the “5 per cent Club”, an organisation consisting of companies committed to ensuring 5 per cent of their workforce over the next five years is comprised of young people on structured learning schemes.

In Scotland 14 per cent of Graham’s current workforce are a part of these schemes of which nine per cent are apprentices, a figure which should rise to 15 per cent by the end of 2016.

In addition to the traditional trade apprenticeship route, Graham has developed a strong focus on technical apprenticeships which are aimed at providing young people with professional career pathways into areas such as construction management and quantity surveying.

The company has established the Graham Academy to tackle the looming skills-shortage in the construction industry. This is an entry level programme for young people to pursue a career in construction.

Over 100 young people have already enrolled to the Academy which offers nationally recognised qualifications alongside paid work experience and permanent employment.

Young people benefit from access to a structured learning programme which develops their skills and understanding while gaining valuable workplace experience.

Participants are enrolled on a structured course which includes personalised mentoring support.

Neil McFarlane, regional director at Graham Construction said: “It is an honour to welcome Annabelle Ewing MSP to one of our construction sites, giving her the opportunity to experience first-hand some of the work we are carrying out across the country.

“Apprentices play a vital role in the company’s overall operation, contributing immensely to current projects while bolstering the foundations of its future workforce.

“We place a huge focus on recruiting young people, giving experience of working in the construction industry, earning while learning. Getting this experience and being given a permanent job at the end of the process is a massive boost to any school-leaver’s career.

“Our overall goal is to further increase the number of apprentices and young people employed by the company, building on the 14 per cent of the current workforce which are enrolled in learning schemes.”

The Royston care facility in Granton will provide accommodation for 60 residents who are currently living in other City of Edinburgh Council care homes in the city. The care home is being delivered by a partnership of the council and hub South East Scotland and is being built by Graham Construction.

The new home will provide high quality facilities including en-suite bathrooms, spacious bedrooms and group living areas. It is the sixth to be built in Edinburgh as part of the Council’s strategic plan 2012-17.

Scottish Apprentice Week takes place from February 29 to March 4 and celebrates the benefits Modern Apprenticeships bring to businesses, individuals and the economy.

Annabelle Ewing said: “More than 190,000 people have taken up a Modern Apprenticeship since 2007. The success of the programme and the enthusiasm from those who have gone through it – both apprentices and employers – has seen us increase the annual target and we are committed to doing more to achieve our ambition of having 30,000 MAs a year by 2020.

“I am delighted to visit Graham Construction as part of Scottish Modern Apprenticeship week to see how the company supports career development of staff. Construction is hugely important to our economy and we are working closely with industry and other partners to look at how we ensure it has the staff it needs to continue to grow.

“I am particularly interested in hearing the experience of the young women apprentices and their views on the role dealing with gender imbalance in the workforce can help deal with skills shortages.”

Billy Scott, key sector manager for construction at Skills Development Scotland (SDS) said: “SDS has worked with the construction sector to publish a Skills Investment Plan for the industry which features a number of themes including encouraging more people to consider a career in the sector so that employers have access to the skills they need.

“Helping more young women enter the sector is an important part of that, and employers such as Graham Construction have a key role to play in developing the next generation of industry professionals.”

Graham Construction is a privately owned company which has been operating in Scotland for around 14 years. It directly employs over 250 people across the country and 1,600 throughout the UK and Ireland.

The company is involved in a wide range of active projects in Scotland with some recent examples including the Edinburgh Law School Refurbishment Old College Project, Dalbeattie Learning Campus and The Lothian Bundle Project (commencing April).