AECOM and the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) have launched a unique apprenticeship programme where apprentices gain experience in client, consultant and contractor roles through a series of rotations. The aim of the programme is to give apprentices a much broader understanding of the construction industry and of the roles of the different parties.

The programme is being championed by AECOM’s Richard Whitehead, Managing Director Building + Places and Mike Green, Director of Capital at the ESFA and DfE Commercial. This is the first collaboration of its kind between the ESFA and their supply chain.

ESFA and AECOM have each taken on three new apprentices who will rotate placements. During the induction week, the six new recruits visited the Department for Education at Sanctuary Buildings where they heard from current apprentices in ESFA Capital and visited a Priority School Building Programme project. They also visited AECOM’s Aldgate Tower office, meeting leaders, other apprentices and heard from AECOM’s Strategy Plus team about how the workspace was developed to enhance collaboration and wellbeing.

“As part of the four and a half-year scheme, apprentices will work towards securing membership of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) and spend one day a week studying towards a BSc in Construction Management at the University College of Estate Management. At the end of the apprenticeship they will have a degree, RICS membership and valuable knowledge of both public and private sector projects at a very early stage in their career.”

Mike Green, Director of ESFA Capital and DfE Commercial, said: “In ESFA Capital, we are keen to play our part in achieving the government’s goal for 3 million high-quality apprenticeship starts by 2020.  As part of the Department for Education, we want to lead by example in promoting the value of apprenticeships to employers, students and parents.”

Richard Whitehead, Managing Director Building + Places, AECOM, said: “This initiative takes into our own hands the development and training of our project managers of the future. It ensures we train them with the exact blend of skills and expertise needed to efficiently and effectively deliver 21st century projects.

“It is very inspiring to see this quality of young talent joining our organisations. Our relationship with the ESFA has the potential to revolutionise the relationship between client and major service providers in our industry.”

Photo: AECOM’s Louise Parkinson (left), Jo Mein (blue dress) and Richard Whitehead welcome the scheme’s six new apprentices in Aldgate Tower.