KHT helps young apprentices get on the career ladder

Two young apprentices are carving out a career in quantity surveying with help from Knowsley Housing Trust (KHT).

KHT has helped to fund placements for Shaun McKee and John Thomson with Liverpool construction consultancy Tweeds, through the Working Neighbourhood Fund.

Shaun and John, both from Huyton, are gaining hands-on experience in project management and cost consultancy, working on some large-scale building projects worth millions of pounds.

Steve Heverin, Operational Director of Investment at KHT said: “Giving young people the opportunity to gain practical experience in their chosen careers will help them greatly when looking for a job.

“Youth unemployment is soaring, so it is more important than ever to support young people entering the jobs market in every way we can.”

Shaun, 20, is in his placement year from his quantity surveying degree at Liverpool John Moores University. He is working as an assistant quantity surveyor with Tweeds, and his 12-month placement ends this autumn.

He has been working on large projects - including an office and retail block development in Liverpool worth £100m. He is also involved in cost control, progress meetings and site meetings.

He said: “It is great to be able to put into practise what I have learned in the classroom and to see projects from beginning to end.

“This experience has opened my eyes to what is involved in this career and has given me lots of confidence with the trust they have placed in me.”

John, 22, has finished his quantity surveying degree also at Liverpool John Moores University, achieving a 2:1 grade.

His 12-month placement as an assistant consultant, which started in April, has been part-funded by KHT’s Working Neighbourhood Fund and Tweeds.

John previously had a short term placement at KHT for 10 months as an assistant quantity surveyor before securing the placement with Tweeds.

He said: “The apprenticeship has been fantastic so far.

“It has given me more confidence and I have been able to network and get advice from people who have been in the industry for a long time while gaining experience in project management.”

KHT manages part of the Working Neighbourhood Fund for Knowsley on behalf of Knowsley Council.
The WNF is allocated to local authorities from central Government to tackle worklessness and low levels of skills and enterprise in the most deprived areas.

KHT has helped find apprenticeships for 12 young people using the WNF over the past year with building contractors, architects and cost consultants working on its building projects. Many of the apprenticeships have led to permanent jobs.

Dave Duncalf, Director of Tweeds said: “It is great that there is funding out there for these apprenticeships and that companies like KHT are supporting it.”

Photo caption: Shaun McKee and John Thomson