Developed with support from the Scottish Government, Investors in Young People “recognises organisations as an employer of choice” and identifies “practices and pathways that have positive outcomes for young people and creating a talent pool for the future” to help reduce youth unemployment.

Youth employment and creating opportunities is a core focus for the Glasgow construction and manufacturing business and its subsidiary companies with over 10% of the 700-strong workforce in an apprenticeship or trainee role and nearly 200 staff members under the age of 28.

In August 2019, in excess of 18 new entrants were employed across the CCG Group as part of the company’s annual trade apprentice intake. There was also a renewed focus in providing modern apprenticeship roles in areas including administration as well as creating a wide variety of work placements throughout the year as a direct result of community benefit initiatives driven by their housebuilding programme across the country which is now in excess of 1000 homes per year.

Eva Strachan (20) is studying a Level 6 Business and Administration modern apprenticeship based at CCG’s head office and fully recommends learning while earning.

Eva said: “I worked part-time in a fish and chip shop whilst at school so the role with CCG is my first real job experience in earning a full-time wage and I am really enjoying it. On a typical day, I answer lots of phone calls and emails, post invoices and credits, and send queries on the invoices over to our Buying team. Also, at the end of every month, we square bank statements for our Accounts department.

“To be able to have this level of responsibility and experience whilst learning and receiving a wage is something that is really going to help me in the future. I would recommend it to anyone.”

Trainee programmes also offer staff with a programme of development within the company. A total of nine trainees in various roles (site management, estimating, surveying and buying, amongst others available) were retained in 2019 with managing director David Wylie stating that opportunities will always be available for those seeking to advance their career.

David said: “We are delighted to have retained the Investors in Young People Gold accreditation. It is common knowledge that there is a skills shortage across the industry but we do not want to labour on about the need for more skills replenishment – we act upon it. In order to drive quality standards and to make CCG and our group of companies first choice amongst our clients, we must and will always continue with our philosophy of skills development and training.”