Apprentices from the Heart of Worcestershire College have received a boost with a grant to enable them to buy their gear.

Malvern firm Speller Metcalfe, along with Travis Perkins, have supported five new apprentices via the Worcestershire Construction Apprentice Academy scheme.

£500 in funding was provided to employers to help contribute to apprentice wages and students also receive a £250 voucher from Travis Perkins to spend in their local store, helping them to build their own set of tools for their apprenticeship.

Mark Hudgeon, regional director at Speller Metcalfe, said:“We wanted to find a way to help support young people wanting to join the construction industry, as we would hear stories of how finances were becoming a barrier to both employers and apprentices – whether that was affording petrol to get to work, their own set of tools or paying salaries.

“As a result we founded the Worcestershire Construction Apprentice Academy, and now working in partnership with the Heart of Worcestershire College, it is helping to provide financial incentive for employers to train our next generation of workforce and is a helping hand for apprentices who need their own tools on site.”

To qualify, employers must be Worcestershire based, a micro-business employing fewer than 10 people and taking on apprentices within bricklaying or carpentry.

Ryan Probert, construction lead (Malvern) at Heart of Worcestershire College, said:

“This is a great incentive from Speller Metcalfe and will assist youngsters going into the industry as apprentices to excel in their chosen career.

"By giving the students the opportunity to build their own kit it will give them a sense of ownership over their own tools to look after and maintain as a professional tradesperson.”

College apprentices and their employers will be able to apply for the WCAA through Heart of Worcestershire College from September 2019 at www.constructionapprenticeacademy.com/