To help support National Apprenticeship Week this week, NMBS is highlighting the positive impact that apprenticeships can have across the independent builders’ merchant sector and how they can also help attract experienced talent as well as upskilling existing staff.
The week’s theme is ‘Skills For Life’ and, according to the House of Commons Library, 48% of the apprenticeships started in 2022/23 were by people aged 25 and over. It’s clear that apprenticeships help people of all ages progress in their careers at any point in life, not just school leavers.
In 2023, NMBS helped recruit 60 apprentices into the independent merchant sector through its members and suppliers, as part of its 60th-anniversary celebrations. After this success, NMBS has continued to work with construction apprenticeship specialist LEAP to train scores of builders’ merchant apprentices who will help address the skills gap in the construction sector. NMBS has now played a part in more than 150 apprenticeships.
NMBS also continues to support the Builders Merchants Federation pledge to achieve 15,000 apprentices across the BMF membership by 2030 (a target it has recently surpassed). This partnership helps take control of the skills gap in the building materials industry while ensuring levy funds are benefited from across the sector. The BMF is also showcasing how apprenticeships help employers save on recruitment costs and foster diversification across teams, leading to increased retention rates and heightened staff satisfaction.
Dean Hayward, Head of Sales & Marketing at NMBS, said: “A skilled workforce is essential to the future of our industry and we’re delighted that a growing number of our members are taking part in our apprenticeship recruitment drive. It will improve service delivery to their local markets and also help to plug the skills shortage in the construction industry.
“Together with the support of the BMF, we want to continue to grow our industry’s apprenticeship offering to help secure a future for our industry and to instil the importance of high-quality customer service and local knowledge into the next generation.”
NMBS membership currently supports more than 1,250 independents across 5,000+ branches throughout the UK. It also works with over 450 different suppliers, so the opportunities for new apprenticeship roles to be integrated into these businesses are significant.
Employers and prospective apprentices can find more information about NMBS apprenticeships on its website.
Main image (top): Jay Chatfield, apprentice at Gardner and Scardifield.
Full list of LEAP apprenticeship programmes:
Trade Supplier Apprenticeship (Level 2)
Warehouse Operations Apprenticeship (Level 2)
Team Leader (Level 3)
Fitted Furniture (Level 3)
Sales Professional (Level 4)
Foundation Degree in Merchant Management (Level 5)
LGV Driver (Level 2)
Credit Controller and Collector (Level 2)
Software Development Technician (Level 3)
Learning and Development Practitioner (Level 3)
Improvement Technician
HR Support (Level 3)
Supply Chain Practitioner (Level 3)
Data Literacy (Level 3)
Advanced Credit Controller/Debt Collection Specialist (Level 3)
Improvement Practitioner (Level 4)
Project Management (Level 4)
Data Fellowship (Level 4)
Learning and Development Consultant (Level 5)
HR Consultant/Partner (Level 5)
Improvement Specialist (Level 5)
Chartered Manager Degree Apprenticeship (Level 6)
Senior Leader Master’s Degree Apprenticeship (Level 7)
Accountancy Professional (Level 7)
