VQ Construction has hired four apprentices from the collapsed Carillion business after a call was put out by Morrison Construction.

The Scottish all-trades company has placed four ex-Carillion apprentices, allowing them to continue with their apprenticeships and gain their final qualifications. The apprentices will now be learning a range of different trades including joinery, painting and decorating and bricklaying.

Carillion was the United Kingdom’s second largest construction company, but recently was forced into liquidation after huge financial troubles which saw it mount up a debt pile of £1.5 billion. No deal could be reached to save the company, putting 20,000 UK jobs at risk.

Morrison Construction played a vital role in securing these apprenticeships. The construction company, which has delivered £1bn worth of private and public sector projects throughout Scotland in the past five years, saw many apprentices in their supply chain lose their jobs and prospects of finishing their qualifications. A call was put out to its contacts and VQ Construction answered.

Jim Johnstone, community skills manager at Morrison Construction, said: “It has been a difficult time for the young people who were under the Carillion apprenticeship programme and as a responsible contractor we have been doing what we can to help then find new employers and gain their qualifications.

“We are delighted that VQ Construction has stepped in and made sure that these four apprentices can continue with their apprenticeships and become valuable assets to their team. There is certainly no shortage of work in construction and our industry needs the skills these individuals are developing.”