Pilbeam Construction welcomes apprentices to kickstart careers in the industry

Three young people have launched their careers in the construction industry through apprenticeships with Sussex contractor Pilbeam Construction, gaining a variety of experiences and qualifications to set them up for work.

Archie Cadman-McWhirter and Sam Burchett both enrolled in a Carpentry Apprenticeship with Pilbeam, with Archie taking on his Level 2 and Sam due to complete his Level 3 qualification.  

Ben Williams is working as an apprentice site manager while studying a Construction Management BSc at the University of the Built Environment.

Pilbeam has put the three apprentices through different courses giving them opportunities to learn different aspects of the trade, while developing hands-on skills through site work, including projects at scheduled monument Newhaven Fort and medieval All Saints Church in Lindfield.

Finally Pilbeam is supporting their office manager Jo Broadhurst through her accountancy training, which she has been carrying out by day-release for the last year. She passed her Level 2 AAT exams and has now started her Level 3.

Alan Corbett, managing director at Pilbeam Construction, said: “We’re proud of the opportunities we offer at Pilbeam for people looking to grow their careers in the industry and we want to help as many people as we can get into the jobs they aspire to.

“Our entire team believes in investing in the future of the construction industry, and our latest apprentices are already showing us that it will be in safe hands. It’s a privilege to be able to support people and watch them grow from the start of their apprenticeship to becoming qualified workers by the end, ready to enter the world of work, whether that’s as a carpenter or as an accountant.”

Ben Williams said an apprenticeship with Pilbeam showed him that the construction industry offers all kinds of employment that is both rewarding and progressive.

He added: “Since being with Pilbeam, my confidence has grown and I’ve been able to expand my knowledge and learn plenty of new skills by working with the team. I’m hopeful that following my apprenticeship, I’ll be MCIOB accredited and be able to run my own projects.”

Sam said that he is surrounded by experienced people at Pilbeam who are always happy to pass their knowledge on, and he has enjoyed gaining real experience on the job across different projects.

Sam said: “The most interesting project I’ve been a part of was repairing All Saints Church in Lindfield. It was fascinating to see the timber and traditional methods used by carpenters hundreds of years ago, while picking up new skills.”

Archie said his apprenticeship has helped his confidence grow and he now feels empowered to take on more complicated tasks. He said he would recommend an apprenticeship with a good contractor, like Pilbeam, to other young people.

Archie said: “I knew I wanted to work at Pilbeam because they have a good reputation and do lots of different projects, so I knew I would get a good all-round knowledge of the industry. The work I do with Pilbeam gives me a sense of pride when I see the result, and I’d recommend it to anyone wanting to break into the industry.”

All three apprentices hope to stay with Pilbeam Construction once they complete their apprenticeships and work with the firm fulltime.

For more information, please visit: https://www.pilbeamconstruction.co.uk