Bellway launches search for 15 North East apprentices

A new generation of talent will be offered a route into the housebuilding industry this National Apprenticeship Week as Bellway looks to fill 15 apprentice roles in the North East.

The apprentices will be placed in roles based at Bellway’s head office in Woolsington, Newcastle; at the North East divisional office in Gateshead; and in Bellway Durham’s divisional headquarters in Houghton-le-Spring.

The new recruits will be among 57 who will be employed across the country. They will join 41 graduates who are set to start work with Bellway in the summer.

The North East apprentices will include five bricklayers, seven joiners, an accounts assistant, an engineer and a HR and recruitment trainee.

Heidi Khoshtaghaza, Bellway group human resources director, said: “This will be our largest ever single intake of apprentices and it could not have come at a more important time.

“As we strive to help meet the need for more high-quality homes, it is vital that we continue to attract more people to the industry, and that we offer them the support and training they need to succeed.

“Bellway is proud to have an increasingly diverse workforce. By offering roles where people can earn while they learn, we hope to open up the possibility of a career in construction to those who may not have previously considered working in the industry. This will include school and college leavers, but could also open doors to people looking to change career.”

Dan Ferguson was named as one of Bellway’s top five apprentices last year in an awards scheme which also included contractors’ apprentices.

Dan is training to become a quantity surveyor at Bellway’s North East division, based in Gateshead. He attends Northumbria University on day release.

He said: “I came into Bellway straight after finishing my A-Levels with very minimal work experience.

“I have been enjoying every minute of my time working at Bellway. No two days are the same and I am getting a lot of valuable experience.

“There is a supportive community feel within the company and I genuinely feel like a valued part of the team.”

The apprenticeships being offered for 2022 include opportunities at Level 2 (GCSE equivalent), Level 3 (A-level equivalent) and Level 4 (equivalent to a foundation degree).

Heidi added: “While Bellway has grown from a family firm to one of the top five housebuilders and a FTSE 250 company, those founding family values have stayed with us for 75 years.

“People are at the centre of our business. Without our committed and talented teams, we would not be able to maintain the level of customer satisfaction which has enabled us to retain our HBF five star rating for five consecutive years.

“Our new apprentices will be supported by colleagues in the region, and will connect with their counterparts across the country to share their experiences.

“Progression through the business can certainly follow. Many of our long-serving and senior members of staff joined Bellway, or the industry, through an apprenticeship, and they are passionate about the opportunities these roles can bring.”