A Manchester-based building surveying and project management firm has launched a graduate apprenticeship scheme.
PMP, which also has offices in Edinburgh, Glasgow and Bristol, has launched the programme at its Manchester site to help tackle the ongoing talent crisis across the construction industry.
The building surveying specialists have witnessed previous success with the scheme in their Glasgow and Bristol offices.
Ben Cookson, Manchester’s first graduate apprentice, joined the 10-strong team based in the North West last month as an assistant building surveyor.
Cookson will split his time between PMP’s Manchester office on King Street and the University of Salford, where he is studying a BSc in Building Surveying.
The graduate apprenticeship programme forms part of PMP’s wider plans to try and engage more young people in the sector, by offering learning and development opportunities at every level.
PMP has also had notable successes with its graduate recruitment programme, with the firm welcoming Ben Spratt and Dan Hill earlier this year.
The business also reported had a 100% APC pass rate this year with Daniel Lawson, Christopher Birchall and Lewis Simms all successfully completing their RICS Assessment of Professional Competence (APC) assessments, and becoming chartered surveyors.
Ben Walker, Executive Director at PMP, said: “People are at the heart of any successful business, so it’s imperative to attract, retain and train candidates with strong potential. Younger people represent the next generation of property professionals , so companies must engage with these demographics now to prevent grappling with an ageing workforce in the future.
“According to the UK Trade Skills Index 2023, the construction and trades industry needs 937,000 recruits over the next decade. If we’re to make any headway in tackling this talent vacuum, companies must start to roll out more effective recruitment and training methods. Graduate schemes and apprenticeships are a great way to achieve this.”
