Lindum Group is shining a light on its talented trainees as part of the 17th annual National Apprenticeship Week.

Across the country, schools, colleges, employers, career advisers and thousands of students will come together online to celebrate during the Government-run event, which runs until Sunday, February 11th.

At Lindum, we hope to use the week to showcase the diverse range of apprenticeships available within the construction industry and the many different routes our employees have travelled to get to where they are today.

Apprenticeships are often considered to be only for younger people, particularly those who have recently finished at school, and in construction the assumption is that the only roles on offer are for trades.

This, however, is not the case and Lindum is using this year’s national celebration to promote apprenticeships for everyone.

Freddie Chambers, Lindum Group Managing Director, said: “Apprentices are such an integral part of the construction industry, which is why we have been committed to ‘growing our own’ for over 40 years.

“It is key to note, though, that you do not only have to be a school leaver looking to become a bricklayer to pursue an apprenticeship. They can be an excellent way to gain a new skill, or to retrain and change career entirely.

“Whilst we must continue to train up the next generation of trades people, there are many roles within our industry that require an influx of new talent, such as estimating, quantity surveying, and accounting.”

Last week, former joinery apprentice and trainee workshop foreman Liam Flower was shortlisted for Young Achiever of the Year Award at the Lincolnshire Construction and Property Awards.

Liam was nominated for his development in the Lindum Joinery division, after leaving a full time job to go back to study as an apprentice at 28 to change his career.

Liam always had ambitions of becoming a joiner, but when it came to leaving school he was unsure on how to get there so took the first job that was offered to him. He became a plasterer. From there he moved on to a local window and conservatory manufacturer, eventually becoming team leader, but still not fulfilling that dream of working as a joiner. When his second child was born, Liam struggled with his mental health and started to feel like a failure. It was at this point Liam realised he needed to take a step back and re-evaluate what he was doing.

He used this time to take the leap and retrain as a joiner at Lincoln College. With some hard work and dedication to bettering himself, Liam finished his apprenticeship early and is now on course to become Workshop Foreman.

Liam said: “I have always had a passion for joinery and enjoyed the craft, so when the opportunity came to pursue it as a career I couldn’t turn it down, despite having to retrain as an older apprentice. I am always eager to get stuck in and push my development.

“I was thrilled to be nominated for an award because it is important to me to leave a legacy for my children that it is never too late to change your life.”

Degree level apprenticeships are available to gain a full undergraduate or master’s degree while you work. The apprenticeships take three to six years to complete, with an overall time split of 20 per cent studying and 80 per cent working.

National Apprenticeship Week is an opportunity for the education and skills sector to celebrate the achievements of apprentices around the country and the positive impact they make to communities, businesses, and the wider economy.