The innovative scheme is tailored for firms that want to take on apprentices to meet local training requirements written into contracts with councils and housing associations.

It is also aimed at smaller builders not in a position to offer a full term apprenticeship.

CITB-ConstructionSkills is rolling out the programme following successful pilot schemes for 100 apprentices  in Lancashire, Merseyside and Wales.

Ten new schemes will be developed over the coming year to support recruitment of up to 500 additional apprentices yearly.

Steve Hearty, head of employer services at CITB-ConstructionSkills said: “The Shared Apprenticeship Scheme is a fantastic programme which will help to tackle head on some of the major challenges that the industry faces in ensuring we develop the right skills, in the right places, at the right time.

“All apprentices on the scheme will be offered the opportunity to achieve a level 3 qualification in the apprenticeship they undertake.

For both employers and apprentices it provides a simple and effective solution that does not substitute traditional recruitment but instead drives additional skills development to meet the needs of employers and industry.

The scheme has five major delivery partners at present who link apprentices with contractors

• Constructing the Future Lancashire
• Building Skills for the Future – Cheshire
• Evolve – London
• YORfuture – Yorkshire and Humberside
• TrAC – East Anglia, Essex and Sussex

To find out more about the Shared Apprenticeship Scheme in your area contact:

Lancashire and Cumbria: Nici Milner 07711 204400 [email protected]

Merseyside and Cheshire: Francis Hughes 07770 838192 [email protected]

East of England: Marti Scott 07881 501302 [email protected]