Willmott Dixon continues to invest in the future of the construction industry with its repairs and maintenance company Willmott Dixon Partnerships, by inducting 16 new apprentices at the 4Life Academy in Birmingham.

The 4Life Academy will be the hub for their training on the company's new Skills 4 Life apprenticeship programme.

It will support their studies in a variety of construction trades from bricklaying, plumbing and carpentry to electrical work as they progress towards a recognised qualification such as an NVQ that will pave the way for a career in the construction industry.

During their week-long induction the apprentices, aged between 18 and 38, took part in health and safety workshops, scaffolding building exercises and team competitions. They were also given an illustration of the company's charitable work by hearing a talk from volunteers at Dekamile, one of Willmott Dixon's sponsored charities that helps provide clean water, sanitation and improved infrastructure in Togo, Africa.

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Chris Rowland, aged 38, from Shard End in Birmingham, is doing a carpentry apprenticeship with Willmott Dixon.

He said: "I used to work as a baker, but I studied carpentry briefly when I first left school at 16 and have always wanted to get back in to it. This apprenticeship is the perfect opportunity for me to completely change my career path and earn qualifications that will provide me with a skill for the rest of my working life."

Willmott Dixon's Head of Customer Service and Training, Huw Evans, said: "We're very excited to welcome our first ever class of apprentices to the 4Life Academy. By using it as a hub for our apprenticeship training we want to bring all our trainees together under the new Skills 4 Life model, to make the most of the excellent facilities available here in Birmingham.

"We want to create a sense of pride and camaraderie among all our apprentices. The new Skills 4 Life scheme focuses on personal development alongside professional development, through community engagement activities and charitable fundraising. It is an innovative approach to apprenticeship training and embodies Willmott Dixon's ethos of giving something back to the local community."

(CD/JP)