Morris & Spottiswood is preparing to launch a new graduate training programme as it looks to bridge the growing skills gap affecting the sector.

The fit-out contractor is reporting a surge in demand for its apprenticeship roles growing by just under a third in the last 12 months - now training a total of 33 apprentices.

It is further unveiling plans to expand its training offering with a new graduate programme as part of its drive towards greater succession planning in the business.

The graduate scheme - which is set to get underway in early 2017 - will sit alongside Morris & Spottiswood’s existing and highly successful apprenticeship programme.

Morris & Spottiswood human resources director, Allan Boyd, said: “Our apprenticeship training programme goes from strength to strength with almost ten per cent of our 380-strong workforce now made up of apprentices. A number of our successful apprenticeship recruits have gone on to project leading and supervising roles within the business.

“The new graduate scheme is the latest stage in a programme looking at how our business can develop talent and meet the skills shortages affecting the construction sector across the UK. We have developed a modular development programme which will give chosen recruits real-time involvement across the whole of our business. We are also looking to take on undergraduates to participate in the programme, and open it up to selected former apprentices who we believe we can develop further.

“Not only does this form part of our plan to tackle the skills shortage in the industry but it is also reflects our strategy to develop our own talent as part of a succession planning process. In five to ten years’ time we want to see a considerable number of senior management roles in our organisation filled by people who have been developed in-house for our own specific business needs. We are looking to organically grow our senior people of the future.”

The family-owned company is consistently expanding its apprenticeship numbers across all its operations. Today it has apprentices honing trades and talents across a broad variety of disciplines including electrical, joinery, plumbing and heating, painting and floor laying.

A recent government commissioned survey which revealed employers are struggling to fill one in three construction vacancies because they couldn’t find the people with the right skills.

“Morris & Spottiswood is passionate about skills development and ensuring that knowledge and experience are transferred to new generations,” said Mr Boyd. “This is not only about future-proofing the firm, it is also about ensuring our young, homegrown talent have the right guidance to build long and sustainable careers.

“Evidence of this can be seen in our ground-breaking partnership with Govan High School in Glasgow,” said Mr Boyd. “This delivers unique courses for students to gain and develop practical, construction related skills.

“The initiative is one of few examples of a school forming a partnership directly with a local contractor firm. Our work has included converting unused classrooms into learning spaces where students can develop painting and decorating and plumbing and heating skills.

“We also work with the youngsters developing their job seeking skills, including helping with interview techniques. Students must apply to get on the decorating and plumbing courses and go through a recruitment process. It is all about helping the students present themselves, giving them more confidence to put themselves forward in a job interview. We’re delighted to be working with the school to develop skills and to show what successful careers are available for those who show commitment and hard work.”