Balfour backs apprentice scheme

Balfour Beatty has helped seven apprentices in Merseyside gain full-time jobs with the firm or its suppliers through a project with the Princes Trust and Knowsley Community College.

The scheme gave young people skills in woodwork, paving, decorating and bricklaying as well as an insight into the industry.

All seven gained their construction site standard CSCS cards, a compulsory qualification for anyone working in construction.

Nina Thornton, community liaison officer at Balfour Beatty, said: "All the apprentices on the course demonstrated real commitment and aptitude. We worked really hard to try and secure full-time work for them all and are absolutely delighted to have got everybody into a job either directly with us or for one of our supply chain companies."

Lewis Smith, Jack Gibney, John McDonough, Richard McGlory, Michael Goulding, Peter Gerrard and Michael Woodhouse have all now embarked on careers working on the development of major projects across the region including Northwood Primary, North Huyton Primary School, Halewood and Huyton Leisure Park and Our Place.

Companies involved in the project include LKC Decorators, Bethell Construction, Precise Partitions, Keith Walton Brickwork and Mansell Finishes.