Closing the skills gap through apprenticeships

The builders’ merchants sector, like the construction industry overall, has a recruitment challenge. However, the Construction Industry Training Board estimates that 225,000 workers will be needed by 2027 to meet industry demand, meaning action is needed urgently.

Apprenticeships are a crucial component of the solution. MKM Building Supplies, headquartered in Hull, has over 3,000 employees and 129 branches across the UK, and operates an extensive apprenticeship scheme. Some 147 apprentices have been through the process already, many of them still in the business today, and there are currently 60 actively completing their training.

Apprenticeships across all of its branches and its central support office range from level two to give and include showroom design and sales, plumbing and heating trade counter specialist and a foundation degree in merchant management. Apprenticeships are also part of many central support functions, including HR, marketing, health & safety, IT, transport and finance.

Kerry Hunt, learning and development business partner at MKM Building Supplies, says: “We are very proud of our apprentices and the contribution they make to our business. While most join us as new recruits, many are existing colleagues that undertake an apprenticeship to upskill and develop their careers with us. We are always keen to grow our apprenticeship offering, so if we have a vacancy or skills gap, we will always consider if an apprentice is a good fit for the role.”

Chris Hayward, chief executive at buying society NMBS, comments: “Apprenticeships are critical to helping reduce the skills shortages that continue to be a serious challenge for our industry. We are committed to supporting independent merchants, like MKM Building Supplies, who are going above and beyond to help close the skills gap and encourage the practice of high-quality customer care and local industry knowledge.”

As Hunt explains, upskilling existing employees through apprenticeships is a good way to encourage staff to progress their education and future-proof the business.

In this way, MKM is currently supporting two of its employees who joined the finance department as administrators a couple of years ago. They didn’t have the qualifications that were required to carry out accountancy work and progress their careers, so are now carrying out their Level 2 apprenticeship with the Chartered Institute of Credit Management. The two employees are planning on working their way up the apprenticeship qualification levels.

The benefits of apprenticeships

Kat Gotts, learning and development business administrator at MKM, explains: “Apprenticeships should be an opportunity to help support people into the merchanting industry, but the recruitment process can sometimes do the opposite. We have adapted our apprenticeship interview questions to focus more on their attitude, work ethic, passion and personality, rather than work experience and educational qualifications. This has been a very successful change that helps us remove additional barriers people have to enter the merchanting and wider construction sector.

“We have found that some of our most successful and hardworking apprentices have previously worked in fish and chip shops or clothes retail stores. Businesses shouldn’t judge anyone on their current employment situation.”

MKM believes that all apprentices deserve the job security that a permanent contract of employment provides. MKM only brings in an apprentice to fill a gap in its business where there is a long-term vacancy, not just a role that could last 18 months. All apprentices get the same benefits, bonuses and pay increases as other employees, which is one of the main reasons why MKM has such a good employee retention after apprenticeships finish.

Hayward adds: “By welcoming fresh talent and enhancing the skills of experiences staff, apprenticeships not only secure fulfilling careers for individuals but also deliver substantial benefits to employers. Through apprenticeships, employers save on recruitment costs and foster diversity across teams, leading to increased retention rates and heightened staff satisfaction.”

MKM is currently partnering with the Builders Merchants Federation and LEAP as on of their apprenticeship providers. This partnership allows them to have a fully managed apprenticeship service, which reduces the amount of administration and planning MKM has to carry out. The apprenticeship offering also aligns well with the merchanting sector and fills the opportunity gaps that other providers did not offer.