Lafarge Tarmac drive success with new apprentices

Eight new recruits join two-year apprenticeship scheme with company’s contracting team in Norfolk

LAFARGE Tarmac, the company delivering highways services on behalf of Norfolk County Council, have welcomed eight new apprentices to their contracting team in the county as part of a nationwide commitment to skills.

The new recruits from across Norfolk are at the start of a two-year period with the company which will see them undertake vocational training as well as receive expert technical on-site training in their chosen discipline.

Commenting on the new arrivals, Paul Fleetham, managing director of Lafarge Tarmac’s Contracting business, said: ‘We are delighted to welcome our new apprentices…as part of our commitment to inspire young people into construction and help create a lasting skills legacy for Norfolk.

‘I believe that our commitment to skills, innovation and R&D means we’re well placed to offer expert support and guidance to nurture skills and kick-start successful careers in construction, and we look forward to seeing our new recruits develop and succeed within the highways and construction industry.’

The latest additions to the team are part of a wider intake within Lafarge Tarmac’s Contracting business, which has welcomed 27 apprentices across the UK this year, with a view to creating an additional 40 opportunities in 2015. On a wider scale, Lafarge Tarmac have a commitment in place to recruit up to 60 new apprentices and 30 graduates every year.

Twenty-year-old Daniel Andrews, from Norwich, who has recently joined the Contracting business as a business administration apprentice, said: ‘I hadn’t considered a career within the construction industry before seeing the opportunity with Lafarge Tarmac.

‘It appealed to me because it offered support and training as well as practical experience and mentoring. I have already gained a great deal of knowledge and confidence, and would certainly recommend this route into employment and training to others.’

Lafarge Tarmac are working in partnership with Training and Apprenticeships in Construction (TrAC) and Norfolk County Council, which has also just welcomed new apprentices to its Highways and Transport in-house operational teams.

Councillor Bev Spratt, the County Council’s chairman of economic development, said he was delighted Lafarge Tarmac shared the Council’s commitment to apprenticeships. ‘I hope this is just the start and we will see more of Norfolk’s young people taking up these opportunities,’ he commented.

Lafarge Tarmac are working with Norfolk County Council to deliver maintenance and construction work on the county’s 6,000 miles of roads in a contract worth up to £480 million over 12 years.