Fourteen school leavers have started their careers in painting and decorating, taping, and joinery with Springfield across developments in Moray and the Highlands.

Springfield has a long history of training the next generation of trades with their first apprentice joining the business in 2002, and across the wider Springfield Group, it has hired 25 apprentices this year alone. The company currently has 20% of site workers employed as apprentices.

17-year-old Morgan Slater is among the new recruits and has started his joinery apprenticeship with Springfield in Elgin. He said: “I’d always had an interest in joinery from a young age, working with my dad to build decking and our garden shed.

“I’m working on site at least three days a week alongside experienced joiners – it helps bring the classroom learning to life. I feel really lucky to have secured this opportunity to be able to work alongside studying and I’m looking forward to the next three years.”

Springfield managing director, Dave Main, said: “Apprenticeships are a great avenue for school leavers. Apprentices are given the opportunity to pair in classroom learning with real life practical experience alongside professionals in that trade. This is great for the individual, and for the industry as we are developing the next generation of the workforce.

“We have supported apprentices consistently since 2002 and now 20% of our staff are learning a skilled trade while working. We are proud to welcome our newest recruits as they start, what I am sure will be, exciting and rewarding careers.”