BAM has joined forces with Kier to offer its apprenticeship scheme through Sheffield Hallam University’s quantity surveying and construction site management programmes
The new joint apprenticeship programme with Kier and BAM starts on Monday 22 February.
All apprentices work full-time for their respective company and receive their teaching in week-long blocks throughout the year.
The Collab Group
In a second initiative, BAM has formed a new partnership with Collab Group.
This will see Collab Group colleges provide a holistic apprenticeship and training service that will target both new entrants into the workforce and existing staff.
Collab Group colleges will also act as delivery partners to deliver apprenticeships across England for a range of trade and non-technical apprenticeships, including business administration, IT specialists, data analysts and project managers.
This partnership enables BAM to access apprenticeship training, a consistent accreditation process and technical and specialist expertise across the Collab Group college network.
Collab Group has a unique national delivery network for providing apprenticeship programmes that are flexible and responsive to long-term skills needs.
Existing partnership with Leeds College of Building
BAM has reported signs of progress on diversity from its third partnership with Leeds College of Building.
Since choosing Leeds College of Building as a training provider four years ago, BAM has significantly increased the number of female apprentices enrolled on its Level 4 programme.
Construction management, site supervisor, quantity surveying, and civil engineering apprenticeships have risen from 20% to nearly 30% females, compared to just one in eight (12.5%) construction workers nationally (GMB, 2019).
The apprenticeship programme is also five times more ethnically diverse than recorded in the construction sector. Black Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) representation stands at 35% compared to less than 6% of construction workers nationally (ONS Labour Force Surveys).
Enhancing collaboration in future construction projects
Judy Middleton, head of organisational development at Kier, said: “We have been working with Sheffield Hallam to deliver our degree programme since 2011, more recently as an apprenticeship programme, and we are thrilled that BAM is going to be joining us.
“The course is truly unique, and working with BAM means we will provide the next generation of talent with a well-balanced platform to either start their career journey or to upskill into a different area.”
Paul Skerry, early careers and professional development manager at BAM, said: “The flexibility of Sheffield Hallam providing both construction management and quantity surveying is a real plus for BAM.
“The relationships we build from the programme will further enhance our collaboration in future construction projects.
“We strive to be a progressive company, and by working with organisations like Leeds College of Building, we can share a common goal to change the national picture and become more diverse and inclusive.
“These three initiatives show how hard we have worked to make BAM the best in our sector place to develop your construction career.”
