MEET David Hood, the 1,000th apprentice to graduate with building supplies plc Travis Perkins since the Northampton-based company joined the National Apprenticeship Levy scheme.
Travis Perkins Group, the UK’s largest distributor of building materials, is developing the new generation of the UK construction workforce through its Learn and Earn Apprenticeship Programme.
It aims to attract a diverse range of people to the construction sector and support them in their development through tailored training and upskilling initiatives.
David pictured above is now working as a category assistant at Travis Perkins group’s insulation and interior building business CCF after completing his Commercial Awareness Foundation apprenticeship. He joined Travis Perkins in 2019 after beginning his career in the banking sector.
“This apprenticeship has given me the opportunity to learn something new and relevant and I couldn’t have been better supported by my coach and manager,” he says. “The programme has massively developed my business skills, enabled me to do more for our customers and I enjoyed learning with colleagues from across the group.”
In addition to its LEAP Apprenticeships, Travis Perkins plc works with educational and training organisations such as Multiverse, University of Exeter, the National Logistics Academy and the Open University to offer more than 40 different programmes – from branch to boardroom – across subject and skills areas critical to the future success of the construction industry, from core design and construction capabilities to new skills in areas such as data analysis and carbon management.
“Developing the next generation is integral to the delivery of our strategy,” says Travis Perkins chief executive Nick Roberts.
“As our own experience demonstrates, apprenticeships are a fantastic way to help upskill our colleagues, build a more diverse workforce for the future and unlock sustainable growth in the built environment and the UK economy more widely, be that through retrofitting the UK’s older housing stock or more broadly to improve the energy efficiency of the built environment.”
Mr Roberts welcomes the stance of both the government and opposition parties to boost the economy and to help the UK to deliver its Net Zero ambitions. “As a major apprenticeship provider, we will be engaging with both parties to contribute to these policy discussions,” he says. “Now more than ever, government and industry must come together to accelerate the development of new skills that are urgently required to deliver on these challenges and unlock their significant economic potential.”
The company is also taking the lead in developing skills across thew wider construction sector. “We opened our apprenticeships up to the wider industry as we look to become the provider of choice and help build the next generation of talent across our sector so we unlock sustainable growth within our own business and construction more widely,” says chief HR officer Emma Rose.
“This programme provides participants with the skills needed to deliver a construction industry that is fit for the future,” adds director of apprenticeships Andy Rayner. “This milestone is a testament to the hard work that Travis Perkins plc has done to allow people of all backgrounds to build their career in the construction industry.”
For David Hood, the apprenticeship has boosted both his confidence and commercial knowledge. “I would thoroughly recommend this course to any commercial category employees or buyers, as the vast array of topics it covers completely coincides with the role we do and has massively helped my commercial knowledge.”:
It has, he adds, helped him to develop his negotiation skills with suppliers and grown his appreciation of the importance of understanding the Travis Perkins customer base.
“I’m a big believer in when we understand our customers, we can work better together with them. I would also say this apprenticeship has given me much greater confidence to stand up and be accounted for in key meetings.”
