National Apprenticeship Week: How We’re Helping To Shape The Future of Construction
In association with the Department for Education, National Apprenticeship Week celebrates the value, benefits, and opportunities that apprenticeships offer young people. At b&m, we are highly enthusiastic about incorporating apprenticeships into our workforce; it is a fact that the World’s current population of young people are the leaders of tomorrow, and this includes the construction landscape.
By engaging young people and embracing apprenticeships, we are passionate about training and empowering them to challenge, enhance, and innovate our industry in the years to come.
Why are apprenticeships vital to the construction industry?
We believe that apprentices play a vital role in the UK construction industry, bringing fresh talent, enthusiasm, and a willingness to learn that helps drive the sector forward. With the industry facing an ongoing skills shortage, apprenticeships are a practical and effective way of training the next generation of professionals, from quantity surveyors to project managers and contract administrators.
Unfortunately, one of the key causes of this industry-wide skills shortage is a decline in apprenticeships, which is why we at b&m are so enthusiastic about encouraging young people to consider a career in the construction industry.
By gaining hands-on experience while studying, apprentices can develop a deep understanding of real-world challenges, learning – directly from seasoned professionals – not only key skills but also how to navigate the sometimes turbulent landscape of the industry. This practical approach not only enhances their skills but also ensures they are work-ready from day one.
We are strong advocates of the idea that apprentices bring new perspectives and innovative ideas, helping us adapt to evolving technologies and modern construction practices. While the construction industry is often criticised for lacking innovation, we believe that it is only by encouraging suggestions and creativity from those who are new to the industry that we can begin to change this. Not only do young people bring fresh perspectives and experiences to draw from, but they arguably have a stronger grasp on new technologies, which is integral given the ongoing digitisation of our industry.
Artificial Intelligence is playing a significant role in construction, from predictive analysis to AI-driven design software. Young professionals, who are more comfortable using these digital tools, are well-positioned to continue integrating AI into the everyday workflow, making construction smarter and more efficient.
At b&m, we are committed to investing in apprenticeships because we recognise the invaluable role these young professionals play in modernising and future-proofing the sector.
Apprenticeships within our team
Our People First approach prioritises a commitment to developing and understanding our staff – they are our USP. Moving away from the traditional idea of qualifications being the be-all and end-all, we understand the importance of creativity, enthusiasm, and a willingness to grow and develop. This is why our staff is comprised of creative thinkers, keen analysts, and the most forward-thinking people you could meet.
To encourage this ideology within our team, we are hugely enthusiastic about encouraging apprentices to join us – if you have a willingness to learn, an enthusiasm for creating innovative, sustainable projects, and a creative spark that we can nurture, you’re the kind of person we’re after. This is a key factor in our decision to encourage apprentices to join b&m, with 17% of our team being individuals on Apprenticeship Schemes.
Our Training and Development programme – where we dedicate resources to the enhancement of our entire team’s skills in a whole manner of ways – was developed with apprentices in mind. Not only do we support our apprentices throughout their learning, but celebrate their MRICS completions with a genuine enthusiasm that we hope will stay with them throughout their careers.
Our Early Engagement scheme intends to inspire the next generation of construction professionals and advertise our apprenticeship positions. We attend careers fairs and visit schools to engage directly with young people and showcase the exciting opportunities an apprenticeship with b&m can lead to.
Many students may not be aware of the diverse career paths available, so we’re there to show them how an apprenticeship can lead to a rewarding, long-term career. By spreading the word, we’re helping to shape the future of the industry while ensuring a strong, skilled workforce for years to come.
Celebrating National Apprenticeship Week
The theme for the 2025 18th National Apprenticeship Week is ‘Skills For Life’. This is something we are huge believers in at b&m, encouraging all of our apprentices to take their skills and passion with them throughout their career and shape the future of the construction industry, armed with the tools they gained with us.
We look forward to celebrating National Apprenticeship Week alongside all apprentices within our industry, as well as sharing the successes of our own apprentices as they continue their journeys.
