about shared 1920x550 - Who We Are

Who We Are

Shared Apprenticeships is a not-for-profit VCSE / Social Enterprise employing, mentoring, and supporting local apprentices, typically aged 16-25. Our apprentices learn at college or with a specialist training provider and gain vital workplace experience and quality CVs on industry placement(s) in the Construction industry and wider Built Environment.

We add value by delivering social impact and sustainability with qualitative outcomes and innovation measures plus a conveyor belt of future recruits through a highly flexible and easy-to-use service. We also manage four social media pages and are involved in local school careers activities.

Our early-careers apprentices work in a variety of office and site roles across the Built Environment – read more here.

History

Shared Apprenticeships launched in 2015 as the South West Shared Apprenticeship Company Limited, contracted to deliver the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) shared apprenticeship scheme in south-west England, as we still do today.  See Our Locations.

We collaborate with the five other shared apprenticeship services across England and unite collectively as the Built Environment Shared Apprenticeship Services (BESAS), offering a powerful voice in discussions with government, main contractors, and official bodies nationally.

In addition, we are a Flexi-Job Apprenticeship Agency, approved by the Department for Education to offer flexible contract durations to help the industry support apprentices where a host company is unable to offer work for the full duration of the apprenticeship.  This has also enabled us to create additional careers in construction and commit to apprenticeship completions for our apprentices.

Next generation

To help address the future skills shortage in the industry, most of our apprentices are aged 16-25-years.

We therefore provide a dedicated Mentor for support and guidance who has Enhanced DBS, Prevent training, Safeguarding and Mental Health First Aid qualifications. And we employ a Level 3-qualified Designated Safeguarding Lead for additional support where needed.

We also have established links with local schools and colleges to support with careers activities, and to help raise aspirations and awareness of local apprenticeship opportunities.

Vision

Our vision is to ensure widening participation in the construction industry with entry-level career paths for local apprentices.

Mission

Our mission is to work collaboratively with key stakeholders to create careers in construction and:

Values

  • Apprentice first
  • Add value
  • Think local
  • Make a difference
  • Quality experience