The theme of National Apprenticeship Week 2022 is ‘Build the Future’, which is exactly what North Midlands based Harron Homes is aiming for by supporting Ellis Marshall, who is undertaking his bricklaying apprenticeship at its Rosendale Gardens development in Wickersley.
Ellis, 17, from High Green in Sheffield currently balances his work at Harron while studying bricklaying at Barnsley College. The college course is a Level 1 Diploma, studied over a duration of two years, and designed by the college to give him all the skills and certification he’ll need to successfully access a career in the bricklaying industry.
The Harron Homes apprenticeship scheme allows apprentices such as Ellis to gain valuable experience in a profession they are passionate about. It was a friend who made him aware of the fantastic opportunities available to Harron apprentices, he said “My friend who was formerly an apprentice with Harron recommended I apply after they secured a permanent role. They are office based, so in a very different role to myself, but convinced me to apply after telling me about the scheme and how the opportunities there are for apprentices.
“I’ve been here at Harron for four and a half months now and I’ve already learnt so much from the experience, it’s been fantastic to apply what I’m learning on my college course and feel I’m already developing into a capable bricklayer.
“I’m steadily being given more and more responsibility, which I’m relishing. So far, I’ve been retrieving mortar, allocating bricks and blocks and I’ve just started to lay bricks myself – which comes with a lot of pressure when building such prestigious houses here at the Rosendale Gardens development.
“My plan is to finish my college qualification and go into bricklaying as a full-time profession, which I hope will be with Harron Homes. They have been fantastic in supporting me so far and I have a great team around me who I want to continue working alongside.”
Lee Kilby, Construction Director at Harron Homes North Midlands, says “At Harron Homes we’ve found apprenticeships to be immensely valuable in introducing people to these skilled jobs, allowing them to develop professionally while providing a fresh perspective to our established teams. It’s fantastic to see this enthusiasm for skilled trades passed down and look forward to seeing Ellis’s progress.”
For more information on Harron Homes and career opportunities, visit https://www.harronhomes.com/careers/