A NORTH East builder has helped a group of students to lay the foundations for their careers in the sector by recruiting them as apprentices at Northumberland College.
Cramlington-based Moy Group, which includes Moy Builders and Moy Plant & Civil Engineering, has taken on four brickwork apprentices to work on a variety of building and civil engineering projects throughout the North East.
The four students – Luke Hudson, 17, from Choppington, Jordan Wheadon, 16, from Pegswood, Chris Brown, 17, from Morpeth and Leighton Nicholson, 17, from Ashington – have just completed the Level 1 Diploma in bricklaying at the Ashington campus and will progress to the Level 2 apprenticeship in trowel occupations.
Tutor Graham Charlton said: “These are a great bunch of lads and really deserve the opportunity Moy Builders has given them.
“All four students come into college on their days off and are really dedicated and keen to develop their training and establish their careers as builders.
“I’d like to thank Moy Builders for taking on our students as apprentices and giving them their first steps on to the career ladder.”
The new recruits will initially be working on a variety of building and civil engineering works over both the domestic and commercial markets including the new multi-mullion-pound housing development at Arcot Grange in Cramlington, the conversion of the Esplanade Hotel and Hear nightclub in Whitley Bay into 14 luxury apartments and the conversion of The Lodge at Dame Allan’s School in Newcastle into new worker accommodation.
Moy managing director Stuart Moy said: “We’re excited to be taking on apprentices with Northumberland College.
“Moy Builders recognises the emphasis the college puts on the quality of its tutors – the likes of Graham Charlton who we have known for several years.
“His knowledge and skills are excellent so we’re confident he will pass his talents and enthusiasm on to his students.
“With the addition of the new apprentices, we will have a strong team of 32 directly employed staff. We feel it is important for us to support the next generation of talented youngsters and we are pleased to be able to offer the students a great opportunity to get involved in a variety of domestic and commercial building works.”
Mark Bolton, director for business development and partnerships at the college, said: “Northumberland College is acutely aware of the pressures on small businesses.
“Our recent success in growing the number of apprenticeship opportunities for our learners to more than 400 so far this year is testament to the quality and commitment of the learners we have at the college.”
