Willmott Dixon's repairs and maintenance company has announced it is taking on 21 apprentices this year across nine different locations in the UK.

Willmott Dixon Partnerships will train the new apprentices, who will learn trades such as carpentry, plumbing and building maintenance, as part of its commitment to skills development. The company provides support services to more than 150,000 homes.

This year's intake of new apprentices has doubled that employed in 2011 and will mean the company has 61 apprentices on its books, a major investment in skills development while the construction market continues to struggle from reduced work volumes.

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Willmott Dixon Partnerships Managing Director Mick Williamson said: "We want to attract new people into the construction and maintenance industries through our apprenticeships and unique Opening Doors programme, a work experience initiative benefiting hundreds of people across the country. It gives them lifelong skills to boost our economy and provides our sector with a platform for when the market recovers."

Apprentice trades being offered by the company include plumbing, electrical, carpentry, bricklaying and plastering. Those on the apprentice scheme will work with the company for between one and four years to obtain qualifications through a mix of on and off the job training at local colleges.

Apprentices are also offered training to become company 'Construction Ambassadors', working with schools and youth centres to inform young people about the routes into the construction and maintenance industry and help them to understand the benefits of having a trade qualification.

This includes the attainment of professional qualifications and membership of professional organisations, such as the Chartered Institute of Building and Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors.

(CD)