The Skanska student programme, in the SRW engineering services team, has taken on eight new starters who will spend the next five years building their knowledge, networks and experience, through practical onsite roles, by being mentored and via formal academic training.
The young people are all school or college leavers, with at least four A-C grade GCSEs (including maths, science and English) who came through rigorous assessment centres to be rewarded with the roles.
Opportunities to work on prestigious contracts, such as the Battersea Power Station Development project, and achieve a recognised qualification, such as a HNC in Building Services Engineering or a Diploma in Surveying Practice, have always attracted high-calibre recruits across the 20-year history of the programme and this year’s intake is no different.
Sharon Smith, commercial controller, manages the programme. She said: “The young people will be able to earn while they learn, work on a prestige contract, receive top-class training and be mentored by an experienced professional colleague.
“We’ve taken on almost 100 people through the scheme over the years and there’s always significant interest when we share details through local community events. The calibre of our recruits is fantastic and I wish them all well in their future careers.”
The cohort for 2014 is: Sophie Merryweather, Maxwell Bye, Nicholas Ashenden, Simon Franklin, Ryan Dickenson, Jack Allan, Ezekiel Kelly and Daniel Mayes.