Award winning building company Haldane Construction Services Ltd, say much of their success is down to getting ‘in with the bricks’ with Forth Valley College’s Modern Apprenticeship programme and taking on young MAs.
The Falkirk firm were awarded the Federation of Builders’ Building Company of the Year award for 2021 and 2023, and one of their employees recently won an Apprentice of the Year award, so they know what they are talking about. So who better to explain the merits of FVC’s MA programme during Scottish Apprenticeship Week 2024 #scotappweek24.
Managing Director Peter Archibald leads an enthusiastic and professional team, including two bricklayers, five joiners and one ground worker, and currently has MA bricklayer Liam Anderson coming to the end of his four year Apprenticeship and becoming a mentor to his Haldane colleague, second year MA bricklayer Ben Jarvie.
Peter, said: “I would definitely recommend other construction firms to take on bricklaying MAs. It can be quite a step taking on a MA, it has a lot of pros and a few cons, but overall it is well worth doing.
“My reason for taking on young MAs is to build sustainability into our business and so we can mould them into our successful team and ultimately ensure a positive future for Haldane Construction services.
“Working with Forth Valley College is brilliant as well. I was invited in to the Falkirk Campus to have a look round the facilities and meet the lecturers and the Apprenticeship Officers – who acts as a go-between between ourselves the MA and the College.
“The whole vibe between the three campuses is great and there is a good atmosphere, which is conducive for the MA to learn well and qualify in their trade.
“Our MAs love being on site working with us, but they also really enjoy coming to the College as well and using the great facilities. I actually feel a wee bit jealous of them and feel like I have missed a trick from being young and not being able to make use of the facilities on offer.
“The relationship we have built up with FVC is very positive and the two-way review process feedback between us, the MA themselves, the Apprenticeship Officers and Lecturers works, very well. Everyone has input in the process and that helps get an accurate picture of how the MA is performing.”
A recent survey from Skills Development Scotland (SDS) – Scotland’s national skills body - found that Employers who have employed MAs, report improvements in productivity, staff morale an overall quality of services… and Peter himself would agree with the findings.
He added: “Here at Haldane Construction we are bucking the trend a wee bit in the industry, with a young workforce and an average age of 28 years-of-age. We want to give young people opportunities and chances and also retain them, so we have introduced an Employee of the Month award where everyone gets a vote. This is a good way of bringing the workforce together and means they are always looking out for each other and trying to impress their colleagues.
“As I mentioned before, I would recommend firms taking on a MA bricklayer – or a MA from any trade – as you can access funding to help pay their salaries which helps at the end of the day, and you will also receive an achievement grant once they qualify.
“My advice to anyone interested would be to contact Forth Valley College and come in for a chat with an Apprenticeship Officer and a tour of the facilities and find out how taking on a MA bricklayer can benefit them. I would also be happy to speak with any firm to give them the benefit of my experience working with MAs and Forth Valley College.
“Seeing one of your MAs going through the Apprenticeship programme to completion is massive. As well as giving you a massive sense of pride seeing them embark on a career, you are moulding them and they are helping to create a bright future for your firm.”
Peter’s Top Tips to retain MAs long term
- Understand the potential MA from the outset relying on formal interviewing to determine where they see themselves in the future
- Regularly check in with employees on a one-to-one basis to see where their thinking is and whether they still want what they originally outlined
- Update staff about the business regularly and how employees fit into these plans, as this increases motivation and confidence
For more information on Modern Apprenticeships at FVC visit https://www.forthvalley.ac.uk/apprenticeships/