A ‘vision’ of a bright future for apprentices

Two young apprentices have been gaining valuable experience of the construction industry after taking up posts with Redrow Homes at Vision in Devonport.

Simon Roberts, 19, and Peter Grimes, 23, have joined the workforce redeveloping the former South Yard enclave on apprenticeship schemes, which will provide them with an insight into the construction world and eventually gain them a qualification.

Simon, from Southway is studying bricklaying at City College Plymouth and was taken on by Redrow for a three-year apprenticeship after beating dozens of other applicants.

He said: “I’d already done two years at college and had quite a lot of experience but you can’t beat working on site and learning practical skills. I also get to watch the other brickies, who have been doing the job a lot longer, which is really worthwhile.”

Simon won his place as a result of Redrow's commitment to provide opportunities for young people in the Devonport area. The company are working with the Devonport Labour in Construction Project, which provides support for the apprentices and other trainees on construction sites in Devonport and elsewhere, to make this commitment a reality.

Carpentry apprentice Peter, from West Park, is working at Vision for a year before undertaking a college course and believes that will keep him one step ahead of the game when his studies begin.

“I start at college in September but by then I’ll have already worked on site for a year. College can teach you the theory but doing the job is one of the best ways to learn and I’m earning twice as much as I would on other apprenticeships I looked into.”

Andy Tugwell, Redrow’s site manager at Vision, said: “Apprenticeships are a win-win situation for everyone involved because there’s a benefit for both sides. We have an extra pair of hands on site and after three years the apprentices will have a valuable qualification and greater earning potential.”

The Vision site originally formed part of Devonport town centre, which was heavily damaged in the Blitz. It was subsequently incorporated into the dockyard perimeter by the MoD during the 1950s and enclosed by a three-metre high stone wall, before being declared surplus to requirements and acquired by national regeneration agency, English Partnerships.

It will eventually feature around 460 one and two-bedroom apartments, two, three and four-bedroom houses, including a high proportion of affordable housing, plus a range of shops, office and community facilities.

For sales information log onto Redrow.co.uk.