The NHBC Apprenticeship Scheme
NHBC launches its first apprenticeship scheme as it becomes an Education and Skills Funding Agency approved provider
Who is NHBC?
The National House-Building Council (NHBC) is the UK’s leading provider of warranty and insurance for new homes. Established in 1936, NHBC’s purpose is to build confidence in the construction quality of new homes by assessing, inspecting and directly insuring new homes registered with them.
NHBC’s Construction Quality Services focus on raising build quality, including construction quality reviews, construction quality forums, build quality inspections and bespoke workshops.
NHBC also supports builders and developers in meeting building regulations for residential, mixed-use and commercial projects. They also provide additional services such as health and safety consultancy, energy rating and land quality endorsement.
The Apprenticeship Scheme
As the construction industry began to recover from the pandemic in 2020, NHBC launched its first-ever apprenticeship scheme, becoming an Education and Skills Funding Agency-approved provider.
The apprenticeships are delivered by NHBC’s Training Team, whose qualified tutors have decades of construction and coaching experience between them. NHBC welcomed the first cohort to its Construction Site Supervisor (CSS) apprenticeship in September 2020. The CSS apprenticeship has been designed with industry-leading employers to reflect their specific needs.
The Apprentice Experience
One of the first on the scheme was 24 year-old Kris Anderson, who started his apprenticeship with Countryside on their 115-plot site in Blackthorn, Northampton. Kris, a former labourer, decided to begin his career in construction on the advice of his father-in-law who also works in the trade.
Kris is one of nine Countryside employees currently on the NHBC apprenticeship scheme. Kris said of the scheme: “The first couple of months have been extremely useful and I have found NHBC’s training team really helpful. They have answered any queries I’ve had, usually straight away and even in cases when it’s been out of their usual hours, such as weekends.”
The way apprentices learn is flexible and unified, combining a range of methods and resources. Kris sums this up: “We have a weekly Zoom call on a range of different modules and with a number of different tutors, which means that together with all of the other apprentices we are really tapping into a vast range of skills and knowledge. Feedback is provided from the presentations we record and upload online and so far, the process has been pretty seamless.”
Building Construction Industry Careers
The NHBC apprenticeship scheme gives young people the opportunity to build a successful career in the construction industry. Kris is looking forward to a bright future: “My ambition is to work up through the ranks over the next few years once my apprenticeship scheme concludes–hopefully to the role of Project Manager or Contracts Manager.
Kris went on to say: “I would thoroughly recommend NHBC’s apprenticeship scheme to anyone looking to develop a career in house building and I am certainly benefitting from being involved, even at this early stage.”
NHBC’s Head of Training and Analysis, Darryl Stewart added: “It is great to hear of Kris’ progress and we look forward to training more builders of the future who will commit to high standards throughout their careers. Our apprenticeships provide a first rung on the ladder, along with a solid understanding of the issues and opportunities facing the industry.”
To discover more about NHBC’s apprenticeship scheme and to find related resources, visit the NHBC website.
The future
Read more about NHBC’s second apprenticeship, for Site supervisors, here https://www.nhbc.co.uk/builders/products-and-services/training/apprenticeships/construction-site-supervisor-apprenticeship