The Apprentice you’re hired to build new homes!
April 2, 2009 by Mark Pollak
Last week the public watched as fifteen young hopefuls walked into Sir Alan Sugar’s office to begin the fifth series of the popular programme, ‘The Apprentice’. Meanwhile outside the city, developer Crest Nicholson has commissioned its own apprentice scheme at its Kings Warren development in Stowmarket. Here fourteen young construction apprentices will embark on their own challenge; to build two new houses from scratch in a pioneering new scheme by Crest Nicholson. Unlike on the television series however, these apprentices will not have to face the boardroom as no one will be fired.
Crest Nicholson regularly offers apprentices the opportunity to work alongside skilled tradesmen; however this is the first time that a group has been given the job of completing two new homes under supervision from start to finish. The apprentices have been carefully hand picked from local colleges where their training and support is given by respected organisation ConstructionSkills.
Senior Project Manager for Crest Nicholson’s Kings Warren development, Gerry Bamonte comments: “We chose these skilled apprentices to work on this new phase of development at Kings Warren, as a result of their experience and commitment to the trades. Those participating in the programme are clearly talented young workers and we are confident in their ability to provide outstanding results during this construction project. “
The team chosen to build the houses consists of six bricklayers, two carpenters, three plasterers, two painter-decorators and a plumber. They will all be developing their skills throughout a twenty-six week period, supervised by a Crest Nicholson management team and continually assessed by their colleges. The apprentices themselves are looking forward to the scheme because they will be involved in a project right through to completion, knowing that it is their hard work and determination that has produced the results.
Young apprentice 20 year Bricklayer Daniel Lomax from Stowmarket, comments: “This is a great opportunity for us to prove ourselves and show off our skills. Not only does the project give us a real confidence boost but we can also gain valuable evidence for our college coursework. “
The two complete homes will form part of the Larks Reach phase at Kings Warren; providing social housing on the development for Luminus Group. The homes at Kings Warren have proven popular with local homebuyers and this next phase of the development will offer homebuyers an attractive range of town and country style homes, from two and three bedroom cottages to four bedroom family homes. Prices at Kings Warren start at £162,500 for a three bedroom house.
For more information please contact the sales and marketing suite on 0870 755 1632 or visit the website at www.crestnicholson.com/KingsWarren
Sounds like a great program, these apprentices will learn a lot being involved in the build from start to finish, it will also give them the opportunity to experience all aspects of development so that they can decide if they want to focus on one as a career.