An engineering consultancy has pledged its support for an innovative scheme designed to attract young talent into the built environment industry
Humphrey M&E (Mechanical & Electrical) Consultants, headquartered in Newcastle, has signed up to become a sponsor of the PlanBEE programme – to attract young talent into construction.
PlanBEE is a unique, flexible training programme, launched in 2016 to attract and retain the brightest new talent in the region. It also aims to plug skills gaps and create a more flexible workforce, capable of working across various construction disciplines.
The scheme started when Gateshead College and Ryder Architecture formed an alliance with a network of architects, designers, contractors and engineering specialists. Rather than students completing their qualifications while working in one company, the PlanBEE programme gives trainees the chance to work across several companies and therefore gain a greater understanding of the built environment industry.
Matthew Huxtable, an 18 year old from Morpeth, is the first PlanBEE student on placement at Humphrey M&E Consultants. He explained: “It’s great to be able to learn my trade at such a reputable company.
“I’m getting to know all about the different elements of what makes a successful construction project and the mentoring and support system here at the company is fantastic.”
John Lau, joint managing director at Humphrey M&E Consultants, said: “We’re thrilled to become a sponsor for PlanBEE. There’s a shortage of construction industry skills across the board and we want to bring in hungry, young talent to keep us competitive.
“PlanBEE gives us this opportunity. We’ve not seen a training programme like it in the UK; it’s a great way of giving our staff a broad understanding of the industry and all of the skills needed to be successful in it.”
Attracting young talent into construction
Working with Gateshead College, the PlanBEE programme provides budding professionals with the ability to study and train at the college’s construction facility on Team Valley. It also provides them with the opportunity to work with some of the region’s leading companies.
The programme has been tailored specifically for and by the North East construction sector, providing students with a starting salary of £11,383 per year, a professional qualification and a guaranteed job opportunity on graduation.
Established by Ryder Architecture, the scheme has already attracted some high-profile names, including; Brims Construction, NBS, Desco, BIM Academy, Sir Robert McAlpine, Xsite Architecture, Robertson, 3e Consulting, Cundall, Arup, FaulknerBrowns, Sadler Brown Architecture and Tolent.
Chris Toon, deputy principal at Gateshead College, said: “It’s fantastic to have Humphrey M&E Consultants on board as the PlanBEE programme gathers momentum.
“For too long the construction industry has suffered from unfit-for-purpose training that hasn’t really delivered the right skills for employers. That’s what we do differently at PlanBEE; we give students the opportunity to learn about all of the different elements of a construction project so they can hit the ground running and make a positive difference in the companies that employ them.”
Mark Thompson, managing partner at Ryder Architecture, added: “This is a unique programme that has attracted the interest and participation of many companies across the built environment spectrum.
“PlanBEE has been hugely successful in the North East of England and is a shining example of best practice that we are currently looking to replicate across the UK.”
