South West firm encourages more construction apprenticeship schemes

Hudson Contract is encouraging firms in the South West to help address the skills shortage in the construction industry by launching schemes similar to its Apprentice Scholarship Programme.

Professional workplace construction audit and contract solutions provider, Hudson Contract, launched the Apprentice Sponsorship Scheme in 2011. This offers 12 months’ financial support to employers to help them take on an apprentice. As part of the scheme, Hudson Contract pays 50% of each apprentice’s wages for the first year of their training. So far, the popular scheme has helped more than 60 firms and 90 apprentices.

Hudson Contract Founder and Chairman David Jackson said: “We are passionate about ensuring young people have every opportunity to begin a career in construction. We recognised several years ago that there is a real need to develop places for apprentices which is why we created our apprenticeship programme.

“The introduction of a new national apprenticeship levy and training service is very welcome, but it will not be enough on its own. We would really like to see other companies in the South West to offer a sponsorship scheme like ours, which has proven to be successful.”