Not just for the youngsters – apprenticeships are a key to career progression for experienced workers too

To help support, National Apprenticeship Week this week, NMBS is highlighting the positive impact that apprenticeships can have across the independent builders’ merchant sector and how they can also help attract experienced talent and upskill existing staff.

The week’s theme is ‘Skills For Life’. According to the House of Commons Library, 48% of the apprenticeships started in 2022/23 were by people aged 25 and over. It’s clear that apprenticeships help people of all ages progress in their careers at any point in life, not just school leavers.

The construction industry needs to see upskilling and career development from all construction workers if we are to close the skills gap. The Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) estimates that 251,000 additional skilled construction workers are needed by 2028 to meet demand, making apprenticeships and other qualifications a crucial component of the solution.

NMBS supports apprenticeships

In 2023, NMBS helped recruit 60 apprentices into the independent merchant sector through its members and suppliers, as part of its 60th-anniversary celebrations. After this success, NMBS has continued to work with construction apprenticeship specialist LEAP to train scores of builders’ merchant apprentices who will help address the skills gap in the construction sector. NMBS has now played a part in more than 150 apprenticeships.

NMBS also continues to support the Builders Merchants Federation (BMF) pledge to achieve 15,000 apprentices across the BMF membership by 2030. This partnership helps take control of the skills gap in the building materials industry while ensuring levy funds are benefited from across the sector. The BMF is also showcasing how apprenticeships help employers save on recruitment costs and foster diversification across teams, leading to increased retention rates and heightened staff satisfaction.

Dean Hayward, head of sales and marketing at NMBS, said: “A skilled workforce is essential to the future of our industry and we’re delighted that a growing number of our members are taking part in our apprenticeship recruitment drive. It will improve service delivery to their local markets and also help to plug the skills shortage in the construction industry.

“Together with the support of the BMF, we want to continue to grow our industry’s apprenticeship offering to help secure a future for our industry and to instil the importance of high-quality customer service and local knowledge into the next generation.”

NMBS membership currently supports more than 1,250 independents across 5,000 plus branches throughout the UK. It also works with over 450 different suppliers, so the opportunities for new apprenticeship roles to be integrated into these businesses are significant.

Employers and prospective apprentices can find more information about NMBS apprenticeships on their website: https://www.nmbs.co.uk/hire-an-apprentice/