Twenty-two young people aged 16 and above began a high-quality construction apprenticeship programme with Glasgow-based construction and manufacturing business this August.

Five bricklayers, six plumbers, seven joiners, three electricians and a heating engineer have been positioned across various companies from within CCG Group. Each new start will undergo a four-year training programme where they will acquire practical and theoretical skills for use in the trade before qualifying with a recognised and respected qualification.

The news comes as 11 of CCG’s apprentices celebrate their graduation from the in-house construction apprenticeship programme this year. With the new intake, a total of 70 apprentices will be learning their trade, representing over 10% of the company’s workforce.

The new apprentices have been immediately placed on live construction projects, with support and guidance from an experienced site mentor, including St Ninian’s Primary School, Gourock - a contract that is being undertaken on behalf of Inverclyde Council and hub West Scotland, as well as a range of housing projects located throughout Glasgow and East Ayrshire.

Lauren McKenna, apprentice plumber, said: “I am very excited to have started my apprenticeship with CCG. I was attracted to construction because of the skills that you can learn and the variety of projects that you can be involved in. Plumbing is a hands on trade but I am looking forward to the challenges it will present as I take my first steps in my career.”

In addition to the construction apprenticeship programme, CCG offers modern apprenticeship opportunities and trainee programmes for internal progression and to the external market. Each year CCG trains up to 25 people through these programmes which will see them gain skills in estimating, buying, site management, design or health and safety.

Liam Rae, assistant project coordinator CCG’s planned maintenance division, Asset Management, said: “I joined the company as an apprentice plumber and Heating Engineer in 2007. The idea of earning whilst I was learning a trade was really appealing. I knew that getting a trade, plumbing in my case, would set me up for life and the CCG scheme gave me that chance.

“CCG has enabled me, not only to gain an apprenticeship as a plumber and heating engineer but through a structured training plan, go on to develop my skills so I can work on the design stages of the build. I am now working towards becoming more involved at management level.”

Alastair Wylie, chairman and CEO of CCG, added: “Since day one, CCG’s apprenticeship programme has been a key element of our business. Our apprentices are viewed as one of our greatest assets, bringing fresh enthusiasm, life skills and knowledge to the company – they all learn a great deal through the programme, and many of them go on to work for us once they have qualified.

“Each construction apprentice receives in depth on-the-job training, as well as theory based education, and at the end of the programme they have a skill and trade for life. We are delighted to welcome our new starts to the CCG family.”

Case study

Liam Rae from Kirkintilloch started out as an apprentice plumber and heating engineer with CCG back in 2007. What attracted him to the apprenticeship programme was the ability to earn whilst he was being trained.

He said: “The idea of earning whilst I was learning a trade was really appealing. I knew that getting a trade, plumbing in my case, would set me up for life and the CCG scheme gave me that chance.

“CCG has enabled me, not only gain an apprenticeship as a plumber and heating engineer but through a structured training plan, go on to develop my skills so I can work on the design stages of the build. I am now working towards becoming more involved at management level.

“It’s a job with huge variety, every contract is different and I like the challenges that go with it. I am constantly learning how to juggle contracts and prioritise my efforts and CCG have helped me to widen my knowledge and experience of the construction industry. It gives me huge job satisfaction.

“It’s a great industry with a huge variety of career opportunities for school and college graduates. I am ambitious and CCG have enabled me to grow and develop and I am looking forward to furthering my career with the company.”