Midland Metro Alliance fast tracks construction careers through apprenticeships
Published: Tuesday 15 Feb 2022
The Midland Metro Alliance has celebrated the achievements of its apprentices during National Apprenticeship Week 2022.
The alliance is proud to facilitate apprenticeships which span a diverse range of fields, from quantity surveying to communications, marketing, procurement and business administration. In 2018, the organisation also led an industry group which helped to create the UK's first apprenticeship for light rail construction.
Andy Street, the Mayor of the West Midlands, said: We are huge believers in the power of apprenticeships here in the West Midlands to help ensure our residents have every possible chance to gain new skills and qualifications to find great careers, including in our booming construction sector. It has been brilliant to see the success of the apprentices at the Midland Metro Alliance, building up their skills for the future as they work on some of our region's largest infrastructure projects
L-R Cllr Dr Michael Hardacre, cabinet member for education and skills at City of Wolverhampton Council, and Dr Paul Hampton, head of the School of Architecture and the Built Environment at the University of Wolverhampton, meet Quantity Surveying degree-level apprentices Finley Brittle and Evans Addae
In the autumn of 2021, the alliance, which is designing and building a number of Metro extensions on behalf of Transport for West Midlands (TfWM), welcomed ten new apprentices who work across its projects in office and on-site roles.
Cllr Dr Michael Hardacre, Cabinet Member for Education and Skills at City of Wolverhampton Council, said: Apprenticeships can offer an excellent route into employment and as a Council we have developed Wolves at Work 18-24 alongside local employers and other partners to develop opportunities across the city. The Midland Metro Alliance commitment to apprenticeships is creating a legacy which will endure long after the tram tracks have been laid. It was heartening to meet young people from the city who are gaining skills and experience in the construction industry. Apprenticeships help provide young people with hands-on experience whilst they receive a salary and study towards a nationally recognised qualification
Two of the MMA's current apprentice cohort, Finley Brittle and Evans Addae, are working as Assistant Quantity Surveyors whilst studying for a Degree Apprenticeship at the University of Wolverhampton's School of Architecture and the Built Environment.
Finley said: It's a huge relief to know I will have a degree at the end of my apprenticeship without student loans to pay back
Evans added: My apprenticeship has already opened so many doors and has kick-started my career within the construction industry
To mark the national initiative, staff from across the alliance celebrated their apprentice colleagues by taking part in several activities, including:
- A trainee and line manager duo represented the West Midlands at a Bake Off event, inspired by the hit Channel Four show and organised by National Apprenticeship Ambassador Network;
- The next cohort of the alliance's award-winning light rail construction apprenticeship, who are helping to build the route to Dudley, were featured on Local TV: Birmingham;
- And daily videos featuring apprentices past and present were shared on the organisation's website and social channels.
For any further information, or to view the content created during the campaign, please visit www.metroalliance.co.uk or email news@metroalliance.co.uk.