Building from within – strengthening our service through apprenticeships

The annual?National Apprenticeship Week event, held this year from 10th to 16th February, is always a great opportunity to highlight the value of apprenticeships and the importance of building skills across key industries. Although not specific to the construction sector, this event helps raise awareness of how companies can encourage more people to join the industry while also upskilling those already working within it. And there has never been a greater need to plug the ever-increasing skills gap within the construction industry, with the Construction Skills Network ?predicting that over 250,000 extra construction workers are needed by 2028 to meet the expected workloads. Supporting people to join, return to and remain in the industry through apprenticeship programmes is an important part of meeting these targets.

At CCF, we take great pride in offering a wide range of apprenticeship schemes designed to equip our colleagues with the experience and skills they need to progress fulfilling career paths and strengthen our position as one of the UK’s leading distributors of building products.

Here are just some of the ways we are making apprenticeships work for us and our customers!

We prioritise apprenticeships

For us, apprenticeships are not just celebrated for one week a year—they are a fundamental part of our business ethos every day! We offer apprenticeships to both new and existing colleagues, and across the Group we have supported over 2,000 apprentice graduates since 2017.?

We’ve even developed our own initiative—– Our Pursuit of Better Apprenticeship. Through this scheme, our CCF colleagues can gain valuable skills that will shape their future development and open up new opportunities for success. All participants earn a Level 2 Diploma upon completion,? but more than this they gain a deeper understanding of our product offerings and services which ultimately enhances our ability to better support our customers.?

Most recently, we have supported the Builders Merchant Federation’s new Sector Awareness Programme which aims to increase people’s understanding of the building materials industry and its excellent potential as a future career path. The first part of the campaign has seen the development of the new Building Materials Careers website which is a great resource for anyone wanting to know more about the merchant and distributor sector and the different opportunities available. We are proud to have our page here and as you can see, we are working with the BMF to demystify the building materials sector by educating and encouraging people to take a closer look!??

We are inclusive

Apprenticeships are an excellent way to attract new talent to the construction industry and serve as stepping stones for long-term career development by giving people the opportunity to develop valuable skills for life. Here at CCF, we believe that apprenticeships add value at any stage of a career and at any age and developing our own talent pool and increasing diversity within our workforce is a key priority for us. We proudly support apprentices who are expanding their existing skills and experience, as well as those who have joined us through a career change. Across the Group, 36% of all applicants for apprenticeship roles are women, and with over 40 different programmes to choose from, we take pride in offering something for everyone.

In addition to supporting young professionals and graduates, many of our senior leadership team members have also completed apprenticeships, demonstrating that there is always more to learn! To make participation even more accessible, we offer training through LEAP?(Learn as you Earn Apprenticeship Programmes) ensuring our colleagues can continue their development with ease.

We are flexible

Our customers depend on us for diverse expertise, from product knowledge and technical skills to delivery process management. That’s why we offer a broad range of over 40 apprenticeships from branch to boardroom, covering everything from marketing and HR to driving and supply chain management. By ensuring that all areas of our business have opportunities for development, we not only invest in our people but also create a stronger, more skilled workforce to better serve our customers.

We are part of a bigger picture

Our commitment to apprenticeships is just one of the ways we are working to? ensure we have the skills, knowledge, and expertise needed to support our customers at every stage of their projects. From in-branch services and technical support to the logistical expertise that guarantees timely product delivery at the right price, our ongoing investment in training makes us a more valuable part of the supply chain.

But it’s not just about us—or even just about our customers. As one of the largest building product distributors in the UK, we have a responsibility to help address the wider industry’s skills shortage.

This year’s National Apprenticeship Week will also spotlight recent policy changes introduced by the new Labour government. These include a new growth and skills levy to support shorter-term apprenticeships and the launch of Skills England, an arms-length body focused on addressing workforce gaps by identifying the industries and trades with the greatest need.

The need to recruit, retain and develop workers in the construction industry in particular may not be an age-old problem, but by making apprenticeships accessible to more people we can all benefit.?Here at CCF, our apprentices are a real asset and a vital part of our own ability to satisfy the evolving needs of our customers.