Nineteen-year-old Liam Rice has just completed a three-year, Oxford-based carpentry apprenticeship with construction company Beard, while Lauren Mann is two years into her job as a trainee estimating assistant with the contractor.
Describing the journey from school to construction careers, both say that they’ve been given more early responsibility than they anticipated, and want to stress to other young people that there are routes into construction if you show enthusiasm and interest.
Rice applied at the suggestion of a friend who had already completed an apprenticeship at Beard, explaining: “I thought that I would just be the tea boy at first. But it wasn’t like that at all and I had lots of hands-on experience from the outset. I was taught carpentry skills, but I also had the opportunity to experience a variety of other trades such as painting and plumbing, which I learnt through observation and working with lots of different people.”
The carpentry apprenticeship involved travelling from site to site with his colleagues, assisting with projects including the refurbishment of school and university buildings. Beard’s structured apprenticeship scheme provided him with a framework of mentoring and ongoing support to build his skills and knowledge.
"I was quite nervous having never done anything like this before, but I found that I picked things up quickly and soon became more confident with the support of my colleagues and the management team."
Liam Rice
“I was quite nervous having never done anything like this before, but I found that I picked things up quickly and soon became more confident with the help and support of my colleagues and the management team.”
Rice now holds a Level 2 and Level 3 NVQ in carpentry which provides a foundation for his ultimate goal: running a carpentry or handyman business.
He says: “Once you have your qualifications then you can use them as you choose. It gives you the option to launch your own business or career straight away or to keep it as a back-up option to use later on – the point is, you have the choice. Also, if you learn a trade or a valuable skill that not many other people possess then it can give you the advantage when competing in a competitive job market.”
Lauren Mann started her apprenticeship when she left school at 16, but following a summer job and a spell of work experience at Beard, initially arranged via her school.
She explains: “For me, the interview process was relatively straightforward. I had one interview with Alan Beard and a second with the construction director’s personal assistant. When applying for an apprenticeship, it’s important to show a company that you’re willing to work hard for them if they are going to invest in you.”
Through the structured apprenticeship framework, she has received help, support and mentoring from her colleagues and the Beard management team, which has helped her to develop the relevant skills. “Initially, I was surprised by how much estimating work I was given to do. I thought it would mainly be admin stuff. My first task was sending out enquiries by email. I was quite nervous at the beginning because I didn’t want to make any mistakes but people were always on hand to ask if I needed help,” she says.
When she completes her apprenticeship she will have a Business and Admin Level 2 and an ITQ Level 2 qualification, but upon completion of these qualifications she will move on to do an ONC and HNC in building studies with the possibility of undertaking a degree.
Lauren Mann: “It’s important to show a company that you’re willing to work hard for them”
