24 July 2013

Some of Costain’s next generation of tunnelling operatives took centre stage at the National Construction College (NCC) annual prizegiving.

Three Year 1 tunnelling students - Shingai Musonza, Ben Brown and Jack Blackburn – were all nominated for the best student in their year at the NCC at Leytonstone, East London.

The college opened three years ago; Costain sends some of its apprentices to a variety of training courses both there and at the Tunnelling Underground and Construction Academy at Ilford, a few miles away, which opened its doors in 2011 and on whose creation Costain  was consulted. The tunnelling course lasts for two years.

Apprentices at the two establishments undertake a combination of academic and practical work on either a day release or block release basis.

Presenting the prizes at the NCC was Olympic silver medallist hurdler and television sports presenter Colin Jackson. He presented Costain’s three nominated tunnelling students with certificates, with one, Jack Blackburn, taking the prize as best Year 1 tunnelling student.

Watching the ceremony was Costain’s newly-appointed Apprenticeship Manager Caroline Towner: “It was a privilege to be part of the day,” she said. “It showed me the commitment Costain has for the Apprenticeship Programme within the business and the apprentices are clearly enjoying what they are doing.”

There are currently 61 apprentices throughout the Company and the intention is to improve on existing numbers.

 

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