As National Apprenticeship Week comes to a close, Preston Vocational Centre (PVC) is celebrating the incredible journey of former student Bradley, who is thriving in his Bricklaying Apprenticeship with Keepmoat Homes.
Bradley, from Preston, is five months into his apprenticeship at Keepmoat’s Farington Mews development in Leyland - a project set to deliver over 500 high-quality, energy-efficient homes by 2032. Dividing his time between the construction site and Keepmoat’s Skills Hub in Newcastle, Bradley has embraced the hands-on experience, crediting both Keepmoat and PVC for setting him up for success.
“I’m bricklaying, labouring, and learning something new every da and I love being on-site and gaining experience. I did quite a lot of bricklaying at Preston Vocational Centre during one of their Construction Training Programmes [which Keepmoat delivered in partnership with PVC] and before that, I did a year-long Multi-Trade Course with PVC, so it has all set me up very well for this apprenticeship with Keepmoat and helped me build the skills and confidence I needed. When Martin [Centre Manager at PVC] called me about the Keepmoat opportunity, I jumped at the chance! I would like to thank everyone at PVC for helping me get to where I am today.”
Julie Baker, Social Value Manager at Keepmoat Homes, emphasised the importance of apprenticeships in addressing the UK’s construction skills gap.
“The country needs to deliver 1.5 million more homes, so to do that, we need another 950,000 construction workers by 2030.
“Apprenticeships play a key role in shaping the workforce of the future. At Keepmoat, we’re committed to hiring apprentices locally and providing opportunities for young people like Bradley. We have a strong relationship with PVC, offering site visits, employability sessions, and real-world experience to inspire the next generation of tradespeople.
“PVC is a wonderful place to learn about the construction industry and develop your skills and discover what your talents are. The PVC learning environment is such a great set-up – the tutors are all dedicated and want every single learner to achieve their absolute best.
“We have just taken on an excellent bricklayer and a former PVC student, James, who has just finished his Bricklaying Apprenticeship. This is incredible, because colleagues like James are now showing apprentices such as Bradley the tricks of the trade. It has come full circle: we’ve got former apprentices teaching new apprentices, and this is just fantastic because they can guide one another through the process, having been there and done it themselves!"
Julie recently took a group of PVC learners to Farington Mews, reinforcing Keepmoat’s commitment to their social value work.
Keepmoat’s relationship with PVC is well-established. As well as taking on apprentices, Keepmoat deliver several employability sessions for learners at PVC, such as:
- Introduction to the Construction Industry
- Skills and Qualities in the Construction Industry
- Teamwork in Construction
- Construction Training Programme
- Site visits
Martin Grayston, Centre Manager at PVC, expressed his pride in Bradley’s achievements.
“Everyone at PVC is extremely proud of Bradley and what he has accomplished. Watching our learners secure life-changing apprenticeships is what we’re all about.
“Keepmoat saw something in Bradley, and he is proving himself to be a valuable team member. Hearing that he’s excelling makes us incredibly happy, and we can’t wait to see where his career takes him. We work closely with Keepmoat and really value and appreciate this close working relationship which we hope will continue for many years to come.
“Apprenticeships are a fantastic way to get a foot in the door. At PVC, we’re committed to preparing our students for real-world opportunities, ensuring they have the skills, confidence, and connections to build successful careers.”
As National Apprenticeship Week draws to a close, PVC is celebrating all the young people who have walked through its doors since 2009 - many of whom have gone on to secure fantastic apprenticeships across the construction industry.
With success stories like Bradley’s, PVC continues to play a vital role in shaping the next generation of skilled tradespeople.
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