North-East construction specialists Esh Group are praising a successful relationship with us which has benefitted apprentices and the industry since 2013. As we are the leading apprenticeship provider in the North East it has helped Esh Group train apprentices with many finding employment within the company.
Tricia Mullen, The Group Training Manager for Esh said: “I started with Esh Group in 2013 after previously working on the other side of apprenticeship delivery for over 25 years. My background in apprenticeship delivery influenced the choice of colleges we work with. I regarded all of the colleges in the region, inspected Ofsted reports, and looked at grades for construction-related subjects. I then contacted all colleges including HCFE, introduced myself and requested a meeting and tour of each site. I can genuinely say that Hartlepool College really wowed me. When I was leaving school, colleges weren’t a particularly attractive option so when I walked into the building and saw just how immaculate it was, how polite the staff and students were, I knew how different it was to other colleges I had visited. It still sticks in my mind just how distinctive it is. It makes me think I’d love to come to a college like this. I’d love my children to as well and I’d be more than happy for clients or colleagues to visit. We have encouraged our apprentices to attend Hartlepool College in the past as we know the staff, we know the delivery model and how effective it is. The same thing applies when we have a vacancy, we ask the college if they have suitable applicants. It’s a very healthy relationship that benefits both parties. “
Esh made a commitment in 2013 to recruit 150 apprentices over a three-year period. Since then it has enrolled over 200 which echoes the late Brian Manning’s commitment to the development of young people and to the community.
Tricia said: “At Esh, we send out our apprentices to work with subcontractors quite regularly. We do this for the benefit of the apprentice. They get the opportunity to work with a gang of bricklayers, plumbers, etc and learn first-hand exactly what it’s like. Our subcontractors take these apprentices on as if they were one of their own and really place them under their wing. We ensure that we only pick the best people to work with. We don’t charge them for that, we pay our apprentice, they’re just there to learn and work with their gangs. In some cases, some of our apprentices have been there for over two years. There are plenty of opportunities available to all of our apprentices.”
Importance of Apprenticeships
Ryan Bennett, 20, from Middlesbrough, who is a current level three advanced apprentice in Quantity Surveying said: “Apprenticeships are valuable because you’re getting the experience you need and learning the skills that are required to do the job. Where sometimes you can go to university and end up at a company just to find out it’s completely different to what you expect. I’ve just finished the first year of my apprenticeship at HCFE. Once I complete the apprenticeship, there are a number of ways I can choose to go. I can either do a Higher National Certificate or a Higher National Diploma with Hartlepool College, or I can do an apprenticeship degree at University. I’m not sure which just yet. I might even go travelling. It’s great to have these options. Personally, it was the best way to go for me. I’ve learnt more than I would have and I still have the opportunity to continue my studies if I wish.”
Kevin McCammon, from Hartlepool, is a former IT Practitioner apprentice from the College, said: “I applied for my apprenticeship in 2012 using the National Apprenticeships website. The apprenticeship wasn’t initially based with Hartlepool college but another college. After my interview, I managed to change the college to Hartlepool. Originally a convenience choice, it wasn’t until I actually began attending that I realised just how different the college was. In this day and age, any hands-on experience in the working environment is essential. Apprenticeships mean you can learn within the industry instead of on the outside.”
Other former apprentices who are currently employed by Esh, include Jake Robertson and Zak Boagey who started their careers over three years ago as apprentice quantity surveyors with us here at Hartlepool College. Tricia concluded: “There are trades struggling to find people now. That’s not going to get any better in 10 years’ time. We need to encourage these young people into the industry now. Apprenticeships are key to helping that close that skills gap. Even if the young people we bring in choose not to stay at Esh, they will be in the sector that needs them.”
