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Group News
Hillcrest Creating Training Opportunities in Dundee
This week Hillcrest Housing Association and their subsidiary company Hillcrest Enterprises Ltd, approved a further phase of its innovative construction industry apprenticeship training scheme.
As a result of this decision, 4 new joiner apprentices will be recruited this spring to begin their 4 year apprenticeships. The demand for apprenticeship placements has not diminished over the past 12 months. This has been readily demonstrated by Hillcrest’s receipt of in excess of 24 applications via its website and by hand. These applicants are currently being contacted and reviewed and shall be shortlisted over the coming weeks for interview by Hillcrest and its partner contractors for final selection. It is ultimately the partner contractors who employ each apprentice for their four year apprenticeship.
Graeme Keillor, Hillcrest’s Project Manager, said “We are delighted to be able to continue to provide some apprenticeships in these difficult times. Special thanks needs to be given to WH Brown Construction Ltd and Hillcrest Maintenance Services for making this latest phase possible. These companies have been key long term partners based on shared values about local skills and training without the need for community benefit clauses in contracts.”
John Mulloy, Hillcrest Group Chief Executive said “Our pleasure at confirming this latest phase of apprenticeship opportunities is tinged with the disappointed that the number of apprentices is less than half the previous intake. The effort from Hillcrest and our valued contractor partners to secure this latest phase is combined with an awareness and concern that future intakes are likely to be dependent on construction industry recovery and the willing participation of new contractors and construction clients.”
The innovative scheme sees apprentices split their time during the first 18 months between on site work experience and their time with Hillcrest qualified training officer working towards their SVQ qualification. The Hillcrest SQA approved training model delivers their first two years training in approximately 18 months. This creates benefits for both the apprentice and the employer. The model also affords greater flexibility with the partner contractor as to when they spend time on site to suit workload demands.