Keepmoat and Leeds Beckett University have come together to support the construction sector and tackle the skills crisis under a new partnership…
Housing developer Keepmoat and Leeds Beckett University have come together to drive interest in the construction sector in the hope of tackling the skills crisis.
Keepmoat recently hosted a series of employment and training events called ‘Meet the employer’ at the university to discuss roles in the construction sector
Engineering student Adam Clarke was employed in Keepmoat’s technical team as a result of these sessions. He explained: “There were lots of routes I could have gone down with my degree.
“I actually started off my career in highway engineering after leaving school but when Keepmoat came to speak with us at the careers event, I saw massive potential in the construction industry.
“There’s a well-recognised skills shortage in the sector and so there’s huge scope to progress and this was really appealing.
“I’ve always had an interest in how things work or how they were built and so taking the skills I already had from highway engineering and applying my degree gave me the confidence to seek employment with Keepmoat.
“I was able to finish off my degree part time while earning money and with a great future ahead of me.”
Ian Hoad, regional director for Keepmoat in Yorkshire West, said: “Adam has been a fantastic addition to our expanding Yorkshire West division and is a prime example of why we want to work closely with schools, colleges and universities across the country, to showcase the career potential in this great industry.
“We want to thank Leeds Beckett University for working with us to support the field and also opening the doors for their students.”
Keepmoat also has 300 apprenticeships and trainees on its books, making up nine per cent of its 3,500 workforce.
Maria Dobrzanska, Employer Engagement Consultant at Leeds Beckett University, said: “We are very excited to be working closely with Keepmoat to enhance our student’s employability skills and to expose our students to exciting graduate careers.
“The opportunity to network with Keepmoat professionals on campus has provided invaluable experience for our students and has proven to be a huge success.
“We look forward to continuing to work closely with the organisation to develop new and innovative ways to expose the next generation of construction industry professionals to the exciting opportunities available at Keepmoat and within the sector in general.”
