During the construction of the A49 link road scheme, contractors Jones Bros Civil Engineering UK recruited local apprentices as part of the project, and we caught up with two of them to find out where they are now.
Mustafa Hamed and Jacob Lloyd joined the company’s plant operator apprenticeship, which can take 12-15 months to complete.
After completing this, Mustafa progressed on to the HNC higher apprenticeship, working on the biggest offshore wind farm in the world at Dogger Bank, off the Yorkshire coast.
Mustafa said: “I was walking past the second bridge that Jones Bros was putting in on the A49 in Wigan. I did some research on the company and thought I’d see if I could work on the project myself.
“I attended a group talk that the council hosted; I asked a lot of questions about the job and progression. I’d never been on a site before and I needed to know what qualifications I would be able to achieve and where my career progression could go.
“It was special to be working on a project like that in my own home town, and the fact it was being built in an area of the town I grew up was even bigger.
“When the project finished, I moved to Dogger Bank, taking all that knowledge and experience on the link road, which included drainage and pipe work.
“I completed my plant operator apprenticeship, and now I’ve started on the higher apprenticeship scheme and I’m doing a further qualification in Civil Engineering. I’m learning something new every day I’m on the job.”
Jacob has also fully completed his plant operator apprenticeship and has progressed to becoming a member of the qualified plant operating team at Jones Bros. The 20-year old, who joined after studying at Wigan and Leigh College, is currently working on a coastal defence project in North Wales.
He said: “Just before my college course ended, Jones Bros came in and told us what they were doing on the A49, and explained the pathway into construction through their apprenticeship scheme.
“While I was training, my trainers and managers explained any instructions really well, so I never had too many questions. Whenever I did, there was always someone available to ask.
“I finished working on the A49, and then moved over to a coastal defence project, where I have since completed my apprenticeship and become a permanent employee.
“I didn’t really have to think about it at all, it’s a good firm to work for. For anyone thinking about an apprenticeship, I’d say if you put the work in and show you’re willing, everything will fall into place.”
Find more information about apprenticeship funding and support.