11th Feb 2025
For National Apprenticeship Week, we would like to share the stories of two of our construction apprentices and their employers: a fantastic case study and a great example of successful apprenticeship collaboration.
Henry began his apprenticeship with Dorchester Living at Level 2 and has now just completed his Level 3 Site Carpentry Apprenticeship. When reflecting on the support he received, he expressed how impressed he was with the staff at Bicester, always being able to find someone to help him. His lecturer, Andy, provided invaluable support and patience whenever Henry needed additional guidance, allowing him to get the most out of his apprenticeship. Henry added:
“I’ve gained communication skills, and my confidence has improved a lot. I enjoyed learning to use hand tools at college, allowing me to learn the foundations of being a skilled Site Carpenter and how to pay attention to detail, which meant I was better equipped when going on to site and using power tools.”
Henry’s employer, Matt McCabe, also describes his experience:
“We were one of the first employers to work with Bicester Construction Skills Centre, when it opened during COVID which was a challenging time, but we managed to make it work with the help and assistance Bicester gave us. They put candidates in front of us to interview, and the recruitment team helped us sift through applicants and guided us right through to the final stage of the hiring process. The continued support they've shown all our apprentices over the last few years has been invaluable and we continue to have a great working relationship.”
Matt tells us it is the combination of hands-on site work and the knowledge gained at college that truly prepares apprentices for a long-lasting career in the workforce; and for those that demonstrate a strong willingness to learn and a passion for their craft, there are no limits to their potential and where their journey can take them.
We also talked to Max, who has completed his Level 2 and 3 Bench Joinery apprenticeships at Lloyd Woodworking, who shared:
“I thought the staff were brilliant. The course was well-managed and everything flowed well. I was given a lot of help with the coursework, which is sometimes the hardest part, and if there was anything I didn’t understand, they were able to explain it well. Dave was a great mentor. He talked from experience and spoke to me as a peer rather than a student, which was so much more engaging. Nothing’s ever felt really stressful because everything has been well organised."
Max also described the benefits of doing an apprenticeship:
“I think you develop a lot more life skills by being in a work environment, especially when you’re around older people. I think that’s really beneficial. You also get more practical experience than if you were to do a full-time college course in the same industry, while also getting all the same qualifications.”
Max’s employer, Gareth added:
“We struggled to work with a decent College for many years. Bicester has been a massive asset to us because now we take a new apprentice on every year, due to the quality of apprentices they provide and the support they give to us as employers."
What makes our apprenticeships successful?
It's fantastic to hear from both apprentices and employers about how smoothly the programme runs and we look forward to seeing how their careers progress. Their story goes to show how apprenticeships have such an important role to play in building the workforce of the future, and we're proud to champion this for National Apprenticeship Week.
At Abingdon & Witney College, we support employers through the entire apprenticeship process — from recruitment to achievement, matching the right apprentices with the right opportunities, and helping them to ensure they have the best experience. If you would like to find out more about hiring an apprentice or finding an apprenticeship then have a look at our Apprenticeships pages or contact our dedicated team directly on 01235 216216, email apprenticeships@abingdon-witney.ac.uk
