Apprentices

Carillion Training Services is our construction training business, which helps turn talent into a trade.

Our sector is typified by large firms working with complex sub-contractor supply chains, along with numerous small firms and self-employed and migrant workers. In this context, we want to help create a sustainable workforce for the sector.

Supported by a long-term partnership with the Construction Industry Training Board’s Construction Skills programme, we offer apprentices the chance to gain long-term skills, contributing to social regeneration.

Our apprenticeships cover the main skilled occupations in the building industry, including general construction operations, bricklaying, site carpentry, painting and decorating, and plastering. The progression of apprentices into full-time employment or further training is a key measure of our success. Many successfully secure long-term employment opportunities with Carillion, our sub-contractors, or our construction partners.

Carillion is the largest employer of apprentices in the construction sector, with over 2,500 apprentices being trained at any one time. With a UK network of 18 construction training centres, we are also one of the largest training providers, offering courses not only to our people, but to the wider community. In 2010, 67% of our apprentices successfully completed their training in our centres.

Due to changes in UK Government funding for education and training in 2010, Carillion Training Services is realigning its business to better fit with Carillion’s business demands and major infrastructure developments, where significant public sector finance is still being directed.

In the Carillion Construction Apprenticeship Charter (6.09 Kb) we commit to maintaining 250 apprentices placed in Carillion businesses and our supply chain at any one time. Our apprenticeship system is widely recognised for its contribution to employability within local communities, for transforming the lives of young people and for helping create a sustainable and skilled workforce for the construction industry.

2010 highlights

CTS was awarded the Information, Advice and Guidance (IAG) Matrix Standard.
No Carillion apprentices were made redundant, despite the sector’s downturn.
In the 2009/10 contract year, 88% of our employees and supply chain workers who trained under the Government’s Train to Gain initiative obtained a successful outcome.
In 2009/10, 67% of our apprentices successfully completed a full construction apprenticeship.

Leanne I’Anson

“My Level 3 training programme at Hull has launched my career. I am still working for the same work provider, a decorating firm, which I was placed with by the Carillion staff in Hull back in 2007. With the downturn in the economy, it’s difficult to find and keep work so I am grateful that I’ve been trained to this standard.”

Leanne I’Anson
Painter/Decorator, Frazer Herrington Painting and Decorating

Engaging unemployed people

Carillion works closely with community organisations to provide training for unemployed and disadvantaged groups, including young people who are not in education, employment or training and the long-term unemployed. We have developed short courses, in partnership with The Prince’s Trust, the Rank Foundation and Local Authorities, to help local unemployed people gain employment in construction.

Despite the continued challenging economic situation, we delivered 36 courses to 383 unemployed people in 2010, compared to 19 courses to 258 people in 2009. In a survey of our apprentices, around 90% of respondents secured employment or further training after completing their apprenticeship (compared to 50% in 2009).

Carillion’s overall expenditure on training apprentices and the unemployed was £25 million, with significant grants from Government and CITB Construction Skills helping to offset these costs.

Highway Maintenance trains unemployed youngsters

In July 2010, 11 unemployed young people successfully completed an ‘Introduction to Highway Maintenance’ course. They were trained in a range of basic construction skills and during the course obtained the New Roads and Street Works (NRSWA) qualification and a Construction Skills Certification Scheme skill card.

Carillion Infrastructure Services ran the nine-day course in partnership with The Prince’s Trust, Warwickshire County Council and CTS.

Representatives from SkyBlue, our recruitment business, explained construction employment practices and discussed current opportunities. A number of young people attended job interviews with SkyBlue at the end of the course, with some successfully securing employment contracts.