One of the UK’s largest independent construction companies is encouraging young people to consider working in the industry by creating more work experience placements and apprenticeships.

The Midas Group is committed to promoting the many career opportunities in the construction and engaging the next generation so they can discover the industry’s potential for high growth jobs.

The Southern division of Midas Construction, based in Southampton, has focused on creating additional work experience placements for young people to support this aim – and many have led on to permanent job positions with the company.

James Hazzard is now a management trainee for Midas Southern following a positive work experience session with the company in 2015, and Chris Cowan is a trainee quantity surveyor after completing his own placement last year.

The pair met up with two young people currently on work experience with Midas Southern to pass on their advice.

After completing a three-year carpentry course, Josh Burns is now in the second year studying for a qualification in construction and the built environment at Highbury College in Portsmouth. Josh heard about the opportunity for work experience at Midas when company staff delivered a talk to students at his college.

The 20-year-old spent time working in a variety of different roles within the Midas pre-construction team during his fortnight-long placement, and said the experience had been a huge help.

“I’ve really enjoyed the placement; everyone has been very welcoming and it’s a great environment,” Josh said. “I know I want to work in construction now, and I hope an opportunity with Midas will come up, but I’ve certainly learnt such a lot during my time with the team.”

Fellow Highbury College construction student Anjay Chauhan, aged 19, also heard about the work experience opportunities during the Midas talk, and applied to spend a week working with the quantity surveyors at Midas Southern.

He said: “It’s been really beneficial, and so different to what you learn on the course at college – it gives you such a lot of great practical experience. It’s my aim to become a quantity surveyor, and this work placement has been really important for me to help me achieve that.

Philip McCabe, Pre-Construction Director for Midas Construction, said: “It’s essential that construction companies are proactive in attracting young people into the industry, and showcasing the many opportunities that exist in the field to the next generation.

“Construction offers very strong career routes with fantastic training opportunities, and we are fully committed to supporting young people through their training at college and their ongoing personal development.

“Creating work placements on site is an excellent way of both encouraging more young people to consider construction, and helping those already training for a job in the field to learn first-hand about the reality of the work, and further their skillsets.”

ENDS

Image L-R: Chris Cowan, Trainee QS; James Hazzard, Management Trainee; Anjay Chauhan, Work Experience and Josh Burns, Work Experience.