Tarmac celebrate apprentice and graduate success

Company places skills development at the core of its graduate and higher apprentice workforce

TARMAC are celebrating the success of higher apprentices and graduates who have completed the business’ two-year core skills development programme – a programme designed to equip higher apprentices and graduates with the skills and knowledge needed for a successful career within the construction industry.

Aged from 19-to-28-years-old, the employees are based at sites across the UK, from Dunbar in Scotland to Tilbury in Essex. A total of 41 employees make up the 2018 intake – the largest to date.

The 20 graduates passed seven modules – including finance, project and change management, communication, and future development – with flying colours and will now transition into a range of roles across the company in areas including contracting, marine operations, quantity surveying, manufacturing and logistics.

The higher apprentices will continue to the end of their courses, which typically last three to four years and provide an opportunity to gain Level 4 qualifications or above, with most apprentices gaining an NVQ Level 4, HND or foundation degree.

Sharing their experiences of the programme, the 2018 intake have demonstrated their newly acquired skills through virtual presentations to their line managers and HR managers, as well as a guest audience from the Tarmac executive team.

Deborah Brydie (pictured), logistics graduate at Tarmac, said: ‘The core skills development programme has been extremely useful in building my network and developing the skills needed to carry out a successful career at Tarmac.

‘To have the designated time away from our jobs to focus on training has been great. My manager has always been really supportive…and throughout the two years has encouraged me to get the most out of the programme by dedicating as much time to it as I can.’

Graeme Boylen, human resources director at Tarmac, said: ‘The core skills development programme is a great foundation for building a career at Tarmac, and with this being National Apprenticeship Week, it’s a fantastic time to celebrate the successes of our employees.

‘Through development programmes and our contribution to weeks such as this one, we hope to raise the industry’s profile and encourage more apprentices and graduates to take on a career within construction.

‘I was very impressed with the calibre displayed by the higher apprentices and graduates through the virtual presentations. It’s clear to see how much they have grown in confidence and capability over the past two years, and the overall delivery of every single presentation was superb.

‘I’m looking forward to seeing the higher apprentices and graduates progress even further with us, eventually becoming Tarmac’s next generation of leaders.’

The core skills programme is just one of Tarmac’s range of professional development and training initiatives aimed at creating a highly skilled workforce to support the UK’s construction and infrastructure ambitions.