A leading civil engineering firm’s commitment to nurturing the future of the industry has taken another giant step forward thanks to eye-catching improvements to its higher apprenticeship scheme.
For the first time, the Ruthin-headquartered contractor is running a full degree apprenticeship which includes a BEng (Hons) in civil engineering or a BSc (Hons) in quantity surveying.
Nine new faces joined Jones Bros on 1 October for three weeks of work experience before starting their studies at Coleg Cambria, which has partnered with Wrexham University.
Seven of the intake are part of the civil engineering programme, with those apprentices attending a 10-week block of college-based learning each year, whilst the duo of quantity surveyors will be in the classroom one day per week.
When not in college they will be gaining valuable work experience on UK-wide projects.
Gary Salisbury, who is now an estimator at Jones Bros, was one of the first seven to graduate from the innovative collaboration.
The 26-year-old worked on Dogger Bank, the world’s largest offshore wind farm, and the A49 link road in Wigan, as part of his on-site experience.
He said: “It’s an ideal programme because of the balance between education and heading to various projects across the country.
Gary is also a big advocate of the addition of the degree qualification, which he is currently undertaking away from Jones Bros at Liverpool John Moores University.
“The fact that the scheme now offers a degree at the end is fantastic,” he continued.
“I am currently balancing work and civil engineering studies, so the new-look programme will really help those signing up.
“It’s a great addition to an already brilliant course that gets any budding apprentices ready for life at Jones Bros.”
Senior quantity surveyor Elen James-Owen is equally enthusiastic about the updated programme and the opportunities it presents to young people.
She said: “I think it is a great idea because not everybody wants to go to university full time to continue their personal development.
“For some, staying at home to learn whilst you work is the better balance, and this course allows that to happen.
“When I was leaving school with the goal of becoming a quantity surveyor, nobody, including tutors, knew how to go about this, and the programme will help make that more achievable for young people.”
Elen, who studied a master’s degree in quantity surveying and commercial management at Liverpool John Moores University, believes the additional qualifications will provide a huge benefit to Jones Bros.
She added: “It’s a great way to learn as you get separate blocks of classroom activity and being out on site, so there is hands-on experience to help make sense of everything you are taught at college.
“I’m really looking forward to seeing the new intake, especially those going down the quantity surveying route as hopefully, I can provide some support and assistance.”
Tony Murphy, head of business management systems and support at Jones Bros, said: “It is a real feather in the company’s cap that we can offer this degree apprentice opportunity.
“We are steadfast in our commitment to young people and have continuously worked to strengthen the opportunities available, even when the level two criteria changed quite dramatically.
“We look forward to welcoming the next intake to Jones Bros and can’t wait to watch them grow with us.”
Established in the 1950s, Jones Bros owns one of the largest plant fleets in the UK and employs approximately 500 people.
The company is currently working on contracts in various sectors including highways, flood and marine defence, waste management and renewable energy around the UK.
The company continues to run apprenticeships with many of its senior managers having started out as apprentices or in a trainee role. It has recruited hundreds of apprentices over the years.
