The company has nine new Scottish students on board, all enrolled on bricklaying apprenticeships. Each new apprentice has been supplied with their own full tool kit and PPE gear.

Senior construction manager Darren Stafford is based in Scotland and is in charge of overseeing the apprentices alongside senior contract manager Craig Irwin; supervising their work, ensuring they are working in the right conditions and offering support where needed.

Darren said: “Craig and I were both apprentice bricklayers and have progressed through the industry. We are believers in grass roots and it’s an important part of our philosophy to bring in and welcome new apprentices to the company so we can pass down our learned skills and work knowledge through our growing work force. It’s great to see youngsters who are keen to be given the opportunity to realise and reach their full potential.”

Darren and Craig are supported by apprentice training manager Christian Hatherall-Good who is based at the company’s head office in Reading.

Christian said: “I believe that training on the job through an apprenticeship is the best way to learn. You can earn a wage while learning. I believe that real life learning is important, but cannot be all of the learning, as apprentices need to have the opportunity in a college or training centre to practice new skills, gain knowledge and have the opportunity to make mistakes, without it being detrimental to the build of the project and time constraints.”

The new apprentices include Billy Nelson, Paul Baker and Kyle O’Shea, all from Glasgow. They will be attending the City of Glasgow College and are currently working on Clydebank Health Centre, Glasgow as part of their training. The other students have been enrolled at colleges including Forth Valley College, Alloa Campus and Edinburgh Paisley College, Glasgow. Due to Covid restrictions, colleges are currently closed, and students are eagerly awaiting a start date.

LMB managing director Lee Marley said: “As a former apprentice bricklayer I appreciate the opportunities that a quality apprenticeship can offer. It is also essential for the construction industry to encourage young talent into the sector and focus on evolving skills in order to improve productivity.”