To mark the one-year anniversary of its partnership with Basingstoke College of Technology (BCoT), Hampshire-based construction firm PAH Building & Construction is creating a dedicated learning space for construction students at its Mindenhurst site in Surrey.
The space will host 16 students in one of the properties which were previously Ministry of Defence (MoD) properties that have been upgraded by PAH Building & Construction to meet modern energy efficiency standards. During the site visits, students will tour the refurbished homes and use the designated room to discuss their learnings.
As the government outlines its aim to recruit more than 60,000 construction employees by 2029[1], PAH Building & Construction is committed to helping tackle the current skills shortages and inspire the next generation into the construction sector. In support of this, the firm has recently recruited Rafferty Evans from BCoT as a full-time carpenter apprentice who will be assisting the team on the refurbishment and restructure of homes at the Deepcut site.
Rafferty Evans comments: “I have always wanted to pursue a career within the construction industry and it’s incredibly rewarding to have the opportunity to work with the team at PAH Building & Construction on large scale refurbishment projects. Specialising in carpentry, I’m excited to have the hands on experience on site of all aspects of the construction process, while also studying with Basingstoke College of Technology.”
BCoT has over 325 construction students and provides courses including plumbing, carpentry and joinery, electrical installation and construction multi-skills. All courses combine college-based learning with on-site training from experts in the field.
Trevor Wilkins, Managing Director at PAH Building & Construction said: “As we celebrate a year in partnership with Basingstoke College of Technology, it has been fantastic to see the younger generation’s enthusiasm for the industry. At a time when recruiting in the construction sector is crucial to meet the demand of retrofitting 29m homes in the UK by 2050 to meet net-zero targets. It has been great to see first-hand the eagerness to start a career in the field. From welcoming students to our Fort Halstead site to attending its college careers fair, we are proud to partner with BCoT and support the next generation.”
Steve Gilder, Head of Construction at BcoT, said: “At BCoT, we provide students with pathways into a wide range of industry careers. Having the support of PAH Building & Construction as they offer our students numerous career and learning opportunities is a testament to not only their exceptional work, but their commitment to shaping the next generation of construction workers. We couldn’t thank them enough for their dedication over the last 12 months.”
PAH Building and Construction specialises in residential retrofit projects, bespoke new build projects and complex insurance remediation across the UK. Insurance projects of homes include those that have been severely affected by fires, floods and escapes of water.
The business partners with insurers, surveyors, architects and commercial owners of large residential estates to deliver quality work and transformative results.
[1] https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-unleashes-next-generation-of-construction-workers-to-build-15m-homes