The company’s apprentice retainment percentage is more than double the national average, says Leicestershire Live.
William Davis Homes – an accredited Home Builders Federation five-star housebuilder – has a long-standing tradition of providing first-class apprenticeship training and has been running its own Apprentice of the Year Award since the 1970s.
Proud of the longevity of the scheme, the company is also extremely pleased to have no less than 19 former Apprentice of the Year Award winners working for the business currently, ranging from plumber Kevin Smith, the 1974 award winner, and Ashley Rudd, an electrician who won the title last year.
This year, around 90 people – including apprentices, their mentors, colleagues, family members and friends – gathered at the company’s HQ in Loughborough to celebrate the ongoing success of the scheme and two individuals in particular; third-year apprentice joiner Jack Jordan, who won the coveted Apprentice of the Year title, and runner-up Joe Gardner, a third-year apprentice bricklayer.
Jack, whose grandfather was a carpenter and whose father is also in the construction industry, was absolutely delighted to be chosen as Apprentice of the Year and says he will put the prize money towards a new year.
Speakers at the event included Keith Binns, leader of the bricklaying course at Leicester College and Jon Burton, area delivery manager for the CITB. Both highlighted the partnership between the company and its trading partners, commenting on the quality of the training apprentices at William Davis Homes receive and noting the company’s retainment percentage of 89.7 per cent is double the national average.
Guy Higgins, manager director of William Davis Homes, said: “We’re proud to be able to provide quality apprenticeships for young people coming into construction and are grateful to our in-house trainers and mentors for their commitment to the next generation of tradespeople.
“The fact that so many choose to stay with the company after serving their time demonstrates that completing an apprenticeship can provide a long and fulfilling career.”
For more information about William Davis Homes apprenticeships go to www.williamdavis.co.uk or contact 01509 231181.