Pictured above: 'Honing their skills on home turf'. (L-R) George Oben-Manu, head of construction, Orbit Homes, Aaron Slevin, construction management apprentice, Lee Bradley, apprentice bricklayer, Andrew Cornelius, construction training manager, Warwickshire College, Ricky Cotterill, apprentice carpenter & joiner and Mark Stevenson, production director, William Davis Ltd

An innovative employment initiative, guaranteeing three young people an apprenticeship with Loughborough-based contractor and developer William Davis Ltd and its project partner, developer Orbit Homes, is underway at a £17m housing development in Long Lawford.

In collaboration with Warwickshire College, William Davis and Orbit Homes will provide apprentice carpenter and joiner, Ricky Cotterill (18) and apprentice bricklayer, Lee Bradley (17) with an on-site training programme directly related to their chosen trades. Orbit Homes has also employed Aaron Slevin (18) within its development department at its Coventry offices as a construction management apprentice. Aaron came to Orbit Homes through training provider, JHP Training. 

Instrumental in the instigation of this new initiative, Orbit Homes has been working closely with the college to support schemes of this nature and although William Davis has been committed to local employment initiatives for many years, this is the first on-site apprentice scheme to be implemented through a joint project partnership and not directly via its corporate apprenticeship scheme*. 

Both Ricky and Lee will learn specialist tool skills, gain in-depth health and safety knowledge and be monitored in all aspects of construction. In addition, they will benefit from one to one mentoring from the William Davis in-house apprentice masters, supplemented through day release at Warwickshire College.

Aaron will work within Orbit Homes to learn the skills required to project manage the process involved in developing housing schemes from start to finish, specifically focusing on Long Lawford. Ricky and Lee will be working towards NVQ level 2 in their respective skills and Aaron is expected to achieve NVQ level 2 and 3 in Business Administration. 

Matt Colloby, business development manager, William Davis said: "This is the first time that we have entered into a partnership of this nature and we are thrilled to provide this opportunity for these three young men.  We welcome them as members of the William Davis and Orbit teams and look forward to working with them on this exciting project.

"We will be on site at Long Lawford until spring 2012 and its great that the youngsters will be able to hone their new found skills on 'home turf' not only providing them with a new career but also helping to build a new environment and local community."

George Obeng-Manu, head of construction, Orbit Homes said: "We are delighted that all three apprentices will have the opportunity to develop their skills through working on our Long Lawford development, whether they are on site or working from our office. We are confident this opportunity will lead to a long career in construction for all of them and provide the industry with three new stars."

Andrew Cornelius, Training Manager at Warwickshire College, said: "apprenticeships are a great option for employers and trainees alike. For businesses, it is an advantage to have students trained to industry standard whilst being equipped with the specific skills needed to work for that company. This often results in higher retention rates for staff.  

Students are provided with practical workshop experience and underpinning technical knowledge which they can put into practice straightaway."

Reflecting the professional world of business, Ricky and Lee will be studying at Warwickshire College's brand new £33m centre in Rugby which provides all students with an inspiring, state-of-the-art, learning environment.  

The development, off Tee Tong Road on Back Lane, is a partnership project between Orbit Homes and William Davis Ltd, supported by Rugby Borough Council. The project is being partially funded by a grant from the Homes and Communities Agency. 

*Traditionally, William Davis recruits directly to its award winning apprenticeship scheme, receiving hundreds of applicants per year.