As part of National Apprenticeship Week 2023, Building Plymouth, the Council-led sector skills partnership with the local construction and built environment sector, has launched BPART- Building Plymouth Apprentice Rising Talent Network.
The new BPART initiative aims to bring together local apprentices who are working within the Building Plymouth network to enhance their apprenticeship experience whilst helping to create new professional relationships. BPART will provide a free 12-month programme of CPD activity enabling both trade and technical apprentices at all levels to access structured workshops to support their development, increase knowledge of how the industry works and to create a strong network for peer support.
An idea developed by Morven Maclean, Construction Coordinator said: “Networking and building relationships is key to successfully working in the construction industry so we want to start these conversations at the beginning of the local apprentices’ career journeys. BPART will help to better connect these new entrants as a community, facilitate additional development to aid their future careers, and hopefully create a really supportive and friendly network together.”
Across 2023, a series of monthly workshop sessions will be delivered in-kind by prominent construction employers along with sessions covering mental health, mentoring and site visits so that technical apprentices will be able to have a go at trades such as bricklaying to see how their drawings and plans need to come to life, and trade apprentices will be better able to understand the design processes that inform the build.
Building Plymouth member WWA, have been instrumental in helping to shape BPART, drawing from their own knowledge of proactively employing apprentices and growing their future talent underpinning the WWA BCorp values of people, places and planet.
WWA STEM ambassadors, Nikki Griffiths and Vanessa Channings described how they leapt at the opportunity to create a structured programme in partnership with Building Plymouth to support local construction and built environment apprentices.
Vanessa Channings, WWA People and Culture Assistant said: “We were delighted to design an apprentice initiative with Building Plymouth. We recognise the effort and hard work apprentices put in to completing their learning journey and the creation of this vibrant 12-month programme will see them supported in building those all-important contacts for the future, share best practice and learn about the industry, their place in it and the other roles that they will come in to contact with.”
Nikki Griffiths, WWA Plymouth Office Partner added: “The BPART initiative is a really positive move forward in developing junior talent for the growing number of Building Plymouth members. With an increase in apprenticeships across the industry in both technical and skilled aspects, we felt an inclusive programme that all construction apprentices could be a part of would be a positive addition to their ‘on the job’ learning. BPART offers a platform where apprentices can really develop their understanding of other roles in the sector, how individuals and teams work together to deliver construction projects and develop a rapport with others at similar stages of their career.”
Adam Snell, Plymouth Branch Manager at Travis Perkins who have sponsored materials for the new BPART network said: “Travis Perkins have always been committed to supporting the communities they are located in with social and charitable projects. Our award-winning apprenticeship programmes are designed to set colleagues up for a successful career. Building transferable skills and knowledge that will help them grow and develop, not only within our business but elsewhere too. This is why we are delighted to support BPART and the opportunities that the network will provide the apprentices taking part.”
Dickon Court, Partner at Foot Anstey said: “As a Building Plymouth member, we were delighted to host the launch event of BPART at our Plymouth office and are proud to be investing in such a forward-thinking collaborative network supporting local apprentices. We are pleased to support Building Plymouth’s initiatives and we think it is really important that the built environment community comes together to help develop local skills.”
Joe Bracewell – Management Trainee with Willmott Dixon who is a member of the network said: “One of the main reasons why I wanted to join the trainee scheme with Willmott Dixon is the learning and development I knew it would offer. Therefore, when the opportunity to join BPART arose, it was something I was keen to be involved with. I find the opportunity to learn about the industry further and meet other apprentices across other businesses extremely exciting. I look forward to creating and developing relationships which will become increasingly valuable as we all progress through our careers.
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