The construction industry is booming and there's never been a better time to get into the trade.
That's according to Sarah Stephens-Lewis, assistant principal for apprenticeships and employer engagement at .
So it's no surprise that the college is preparing to open a huge new state-of-the-art training academy for construction apprentices this month.
Situated just behind the Village Hotel, SGS Horizon has been built with industry and employers in mind and is specially designed to help construction apprentices learn the skills they need for a career in the industry.
Sarah said: "We've essentially turned two big empty warehouses into one giant construction apprenticeship training academy.
"It's a completely working construction site, with a civils yard, workshops, and machinery, to provide students with future-proof training that covers current and upcoming developments in methods and technology.
"In fact, our current construction apprentices, including brickies, electricians, plasterers and plumbers, even stepped up to help put SGS Horizon together as part of their learning and development journey.
"They will continue to help us work on it over the coming weeks so we should be completely done by the end of January.
"I'm sure that won't be a moment too soon. Our construction numbers have soared this year. They're really, really strong."
Supporting the needs of employers
Demand from local employers for skilled apprentices is being fuelled by an ongoing boom in construction projects combined with a post-Brexit exodus of EU workers.
The sector has traditionally relied on self-employed contractors, many of whom hailed from eastern Europe, as a cost-effective and flexible way of bridging the skills gap.
But recent events have led companies to recognise the benefits of retaining skills and knowledge by employing people directly.
Sarah explained: "Construction responded really differently to Covid. There were huge amounts of furlough but when the jobs came back, they came back with a vengeance. So the sector has been recruiting like there's no tomorrow.
"We certainly expect construction numbers to continue to soar in 2023 given the number of current developments around Filton and the South Gloucestershire area.
"And now, thanks to SGS Horizon, we're in an excellent position to boost the number of construction learners to effectively support the needs of local employers.
"I'm hoping that, from a construction perspective, we can soon expand into the support functions within the sector as well - like management and administration support.
"The future of construction is bright so it's a hugely exciting time."
Filling the skills gap
SGS College supports more than 1,000 employers with its apprenticeship programme, recruiting more than 600 new apprentices every year.
All its apprenticeships are directly delivered by SGS, giving responsiveness, consistency, accountability and control of quality.
The college has very strong retention and overall achievement rates, ahead of national averages, and more than 90% of apprentices recruited through SGS are still with the employer at 12 months.
Sarah said: "A Level 3 apprenticeship in a construction trade can last three years so it cannot be overstated how vital they are to the sector as a whole.
"Fresh eyes bring new ideas and new ways of working. By becoming more flexible, construction firms are able to become more agile and move the industry forward.
"Attracting new, talented individuals into the industry is a great way to make sure the momentum continues for generations to come, reliably filling the skills gap.
"Businesses can employ apprentices at different levels, from school leavers and university graduates to people who want to further their careers or change career direction completely. You can hire someone new or upskill an existing employee.
"You can also recruit to your own job specifications or adapt their training according to the needs of your firm and solve your staff recruitment and retention problems in an elegant, affordable way."
National Apprenticeship Week
All things being equal, the new SGS Horizon training academy will be open in time for this year's National Apprenticeship Week, which runs from February 6 to 12.
The college can't wait to celebrate its fantastic apprentices, encourage greater numbers of young people into apprenticeships and make sure that building firms are aware of the value apprentices can bring.
Sarah said: "We're convinced that apprentices are the future of the construction sector which is why we love to applaud their role and contributions.
"Here at SGS College, we'll be doing an awful lot of work with local and national employers during National Apprenticeship Week, hosting brilliant events and inviting guest speakers to talk to our full-time learners.
"We're hoping these employers come in and really put a context to those job roles. They'll talk about what their industry looks like, what they expect from a learner, potential salary, and what they're looking for in terms of CV and interview skills.
"Ultimately, it's clear that more must be done to encourage the next generation into construction.
"But I'm convinced that when our 4,000 full-time learners finish in June and are looking to progress into other areas, a good proportion will choose to be construction apprentices."
Find out more?
SGS College offers a wide range of apprenticeships covering most employment sectors. To find out if an apprenticeship at SGS is the course for you, see
SGS College is an official partner of the Top 150 Business Guide 2023, which will appear in the Western Daily Press on Thursday, January 26. It will be launched with a special Business Breakfast at Aerospace Bristol on the same day. Email for further information.
