Meet: Declan
Meet Declan, an Advanced Apprentice in Construction and the Built Environment.
Name: Declan
Course Studies: Advanced Apprenticeship in Construction
National Apprenticeship Week (3-7 February 2020) is a great opportunity to celebrate the positive impact apprenticeships have on individuals, businesses and the wider economy, and the importance of training the country’s future workforce.
Notably, Apprenticeships at Oaklands College allowed 95% of our apprentices to work in their chosen career area, with 91% stating that their experience helped them grow their confidence and remain within employment after completing their apprenticeship programme.
That’s exactly what Level 3 Advanced Apprentice Declan plans to do, after excelling at his current work placement with Inland Homes, based in Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire.
Apprentices at Inland Homes are employed in many different fields including construction management, procurement, human resources and business administration.
Speaking to construction magazine ‘Premier‘ about how he became an apprentice, 20 year-old Declan comments: “After finishing at St Joan of Arc Catholic School in Rickmansworth, I wanted to follow several members of my family, including my mum, into the construction industry. I wanted hands on experience rather than a full time classroom based university course and applied online for an apprenticeship position at Inland Homes in the procurement department, progressing on to study a Level 4 in Construction in the Built Environment.”
“Since joining Inland Homes in May 2019, I have been working four days a week in the office and studying at Oaklands College in Welwyn one-day-per-week. My manager and mentor Lynsey Allen took the same course and has provided me with excellent support and encouragement and due to my role, I work with most teams within the business, especially pre-construction, site teams and the quantity surveyors to ensure all of our sites have the best products and suppliers.”
Declan adds; “I feel really lucky to have been given the opportunity to take an apprenticeship and would encourage all young people to seriously consider this option. At Inland Homes, I have been fully welcomed into the overall team, the company really likes to give back to its employees and I have enjoyed many staff social events including summer and Christmas parties.”
I have been working four days a week in the office and studying at Oaklands College in Welwyn one day per week.
