Boasting one of the UK’s most successful apprenticeship programmes, City Building train apprentices in a variety of disciplines, including painting, plumbing, electrical and joinery. The apprentices, aged between 16 and 20, were in good company with executive director Alan Burns, who began his career as an apprentice blacksmith 30 years prior and Cllr. Allan Casey, who began his career as an apprentice joiner with the firm.

The new college, nestled in the grounds of Royal Strathclyde Blindcraft Industries (RSBI) near Springburn, has been designed to accommodate more than 250 apprentices and tradespeople.

As City Building has ambitious plans for renewables within the sector, the college will mirror the company’s efforts to contribute to a green economy. Renewable energy technology will enhance the energy efficiency of the building, and the design includes a ground source heating system. City Building will also be constructing the college, allowing employees an invaluable learning opportunity to build upon their existing knowledge of renewables.

Councillor Allan Casey said: “It is an exceptionally exciting time for the firm as we welcome more apprentices and commence the building of the training college. The college represents our commitment to renewables within the construction sector, and to the workforce in the wider construction industry. We are delighted that City Building employees will gain first-hand experience in the college’s construction, which will also allow us to use more innovative construction technologies in skilling our apprentices and workforce.

“Through our existing renewables workstream, we retrofit homes in Glasgow with solar panels and ground source heating to encourage a greener city, which feels particularly apt with COP26 fast approaching. The training college will allow us to upskill our workforce and provide much more sustainable construction.”

Despite the delays which lockdown has presented to the firm, executive director of City Building, Alan Burns, recently revealed that City Building held over £200 million in contracts for both entities; City Building (Glasgow) and City Building (Contracts). This allowed the company to continue with its annual recruitment of apprentices for Glasgow City Council and Wheatley Group.

Alan Burns said: “There was a real buzz in the air as we watched the site enter the first phase of its transformation. It is our hope that both current and future apprentices will be able to enjoy the training college and benefit from the new training opportunities it will support.”

With construction now underway, the building is set for completion by 2022.