Apprentices help power city's £200m regeneration

Apprentices have been taken on in the Forum to train in different careers in the construction industry

Degree apprentices are being given the chance to learn on the job working on Gloucester’s £200m regeneration.

The Forum, a new £107m business hub, is aimed at attracting cyber firms and bringing up to 1,500 jobs to the city.

Apprentices have been taken on to train in different careers in the construction industry, whilst also gaining a degree.

Trainee site manager, Tom Elliott said: “I do anything a site manager would do, I just get more guidance in the day.”

Once Mr Elliot started looking into construction as a possible career, he realised there were many different pathways.

Speaking to BBC Gloucestershire he said: “I saw that getting an apprenticeship at the Forum was a great, great way of getting into the industry.

“It’s really good being taught how to do your job whilst actually doing it. It just reinforces everything that you’re learning.

“The amount I learn on site is almost as much, or even more, than I learn at uni.

“Doing them both together, I’ve got so much more knowledge as I would just be doing the theory as a student.”

‘An advantage’

Jenifer Aaron is learning to be a quantity surveyor on the Forum campus. After five-and-a-half years she will have completed her training, as well as having obtained a degree.

“With an apprenticeship, you get two-in-one,” she said.

“You get uni paid for by your employer, but you also get paid while your working and come out with five years’ of experience and a degree.

“In employers’ eyes, they see it as more of an advantage. I would definitely recommend it.”

The £200m regeneration project will also bring a boutique hotel, rooftop bar, a gym and a new multi-storey car park to the city centre.

Phase two construction work started in March 2023 and is progressing steadily towards completion, which is expected later in 2024.

The city council hopes the new project could bring more than 1,500 new jobs to Gloucester

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