Hertfordshire Building Control
Hertfordshire Building Control are an SME based in Welwyn Garden City and provide a building control approval service across Hertfordshire. Their team of qualified surveyors work in collaboration with builders, architects and agents, ensuring that every building project achieves approval with minimal disruption and customers and communities benefit from good quality, safe, sustainable buildings.
Apprenticeships and Training
Over the past 3 years, award winning company, Hertfordshire Building Control, have put 23 of their staff (both new and existing) through apprenticeships and recognised training, a phenomenal achievement for an SME. This has led them to achieve multiple awards in People Development and become Gold accredited in Investing in People and Apprenticeships.
The apprenticeships have covered all manner of areas from the more obvious Degree apprenticeships in Building Control, to Degree apprenticeships in Business and also in Marketing. HBC have also ensured continuing development in other areas enabling staff to complete higher and advanced level apprenticeships in HR and finance.
Benefits of Upskilling for the Employer
Managing Director, Simon Heywood said “Apprentices come in all guises, people towards the latter part of their careers who bring a huge amount of life experience, others fresh out of secondary education with ideas and energy in abundance and others in between. What unites them is a thirst for learning on courses that provide the skills and knowledge that will stand them well throughout the remainder of their careers. This is invaluable to the Company as it helps to develop our people in ways in which we could not. It does require an investment, both in time and money (less so with the financial support provided) but it is an investment that we could not afford, not to make. Those we have supported have a real appreciation of that investment and the opportunities that it has given them. Some do leave and go to competitor organisations. This can be frustrating but if we were not to support their development and they remained with the Company this would be significantly worse.”
What the Apprentices Say
Apprenticeships can be used in a variety of ways and Steve Griffiths from HBC highlights how he used an apprenticeship for a career change- “Previously I was a carpenter and I am really enjoying this career change to become a qualified surveyor, particularly the learning opportunities that come with it”, whilst another of HBC’s apprentices, George Bowers, joined HBC on an apprenticeship programme and says “before my apprenticeship I was undertaking a course in construction at Oaklands College. This apprenticeship has really helped me to progress as a building control surveyor and is supporting me towards chartered membership of a professional body.”
Existing staff member, Rachel Legood says “I am a real advocate for all training and development opportunities. It is hard to juggle work and study but it is rewarding particularly the opportunity to bring the learnings from my level 6 marketing manager course into the workplace to the benefit of the Company.”
How To Get Involved
Apprenticeships give the opportunity to earn and learn and with over 600 different programmes offered, they really can be a cost effective way to get the right skills for the job. With financial support available under the Hertfordshire LEP’s Apprenticeship Levy Transfer scheme and guidance as to what is the most suitable apprenticeship, SMEs can make the most of this valuable opportunity.
