26 June 2014

Investing in young people addresses the long-term skills shortage and is also helping Costain to build a sustainable business.

Costain recently brought together over 60 apprentices from across the Group to attend its Annual Apprentice Conference, giving them an opportunity to meet other young workers and develop a better understanding of the many projects the Company is working on.

The three-day event at Highgate Manor in Northamptonshire included team building events, workshops to develop core skills, presentations from apprentices and guest speakers from within Costain, the Institution of Civil Engineers and the 3PEI Technician Project.

The apprentices were also given an introduction to Behavioural Management, the foundation of Costain Behavioural Safety (CBS). CBS forms an integral part of the Group’s overall safety, health, and environment programme by creating an environment in which, through exhibiting leadership, everyone has an understanding of their own behaviour and how it impacts on others.

The apprentices had an opportunity to reflect on their career paths and a chance to question key staff and senior management, who offered advice and guidance based on their own experiences.

“As a responsible business, we want to help our apprentices reach their full potential and the Annual Apprentice Conference is part of that process. It’s a great opportunity for all of our apprentices to come together and share their experiences. The emphasis is on personal development through team building and gaining a better understanding about why these core skills are so important to our business and our customers,” said Caroline Towner, Costain’s Apprentice Manager.

Now in its fourth year, the Costain Apprentice Scheme delivers training and employment opportunities to young people seeking a career in the construction and civil engineering industry.

The Scheme was set up to address the need for succession planning in vital roles and to ensure the next generation of qualified employees, other than those on the Graduate Trainee Scheme, could still enter the business.

“I only started work at Costain a week prior to the event so it widened my knowledge of the Company and allowed me to meet other apprentices from across the business. The three days gave me some independence and an opportunity to kick-start a successful career with Costain,” said Charlotte Wilkinson, an Apprentice Business Administrator.

“The conference was a great way to meet apprentices from all over the country and to hear first-hand stories of what it is like to work on other sites. Most importantly, it made me feel proud to be part of a company that strives to invest in apprentices with the hope that we will be the future of the company,” said Tawfiq Adebiyi, an Apprentice BIM Technician.

Costain currently has apprenticeships in a number of industry critical disciplines, including building and civil engineering, electrical installation, business administration, accountancy, instrument design, civil/structural design and piping design.

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