1,000th apprentice graduate marks major milestone for Travis Perkins plc as it develops the next generation of the UK construction workforce
David Hood, Category Assistant at Travis Perkins plc specialist business, CCF, is named as 1,000th apprentice graduate
Apprenticeships and upskilling is vital to meeting UK construction industry challenges and delivering UK decarbonisation
Northampton 6 February 2023: As part of National Apprenticeship Week, Travis Perkins Group, the UK’s largest distributor of building materials, is proud to celebrate its 1,000th apprentice graduate following the introduction of the apprenticeship levy and reforms in 2017.
Travis Perkins plc is committed to developing the next generation of the UK construction workforce. Through LEAP, its “Learn and Earn” Apprenticeship Programme, Travis Perkins plc strives to attract a diverse range of people to the construction sector and then supports them in their development through tailored training and upskilling initiatives.
Operating nationwide, the Group provides high quality, tailored learning experiences for its own colleagues as well as those from companies operating across the construction supply chain.
Testimony to the scale and success of the programme, Travis Perkins plc is pleased to celebrate its 1,000th apprentice graduate - David Hood, a Category Assistant at CCF; the Group’s insulation and interior building business.
Nick Roberts, CEO of Travis Perkins plc, commented: “Developing the next generation is integral to the delivery of our strategy. We have been a leading provider of apprenticeships in our sector for some time, so the fact that David is our 1000th graduate is just a very proud moment for both David and our business. .
“As our own experience demonstrates, apprenticeships are a fantastic way to help upskill our colleagues, build a more diverse workforce for the future and unlock sustainable growth in the built environment and the UK economy more widely; be that through retrofitting the UK’s older housing stock or more broadly to improve the energy efficiency of the built environment.
“We welcome the current focus on skills from both the Government and Opposition to boost the economy and to help the UK deliver its Net Zero ambitions. As a major apprenticeship provider, we will be engaging with both parties to contribute to these policy discussions. Now more than ever, Government and industry must come together to accelerate the development of new skills that are urgently required to deliver on these challenges and unlock their significant economic potential.”
In addition to its LEAP Apprenticeships, Travis Perkins plc works with a wide range of educational and training organisations such as Multiverse, University of Exeter, the National Logistics Academy and the Open University to offer over 40 different programmes - from branch to boardroom - across subject and skills areas that will be critical to the future success of the construction industry, from core design and construction capabilities to new skills in areas such as data analysis and carbon management.
Emma Rose, Chief HR Officer at Travis Perkins plc, commented:
“We are extremely proud of David and all our apprenticeship graduates. Our Apprenticeship Programme is industry leading and continues to go from strength to strength. During 2022 we opened our apprenticeships up to the wider industry as we look to become the provider of choice and help build the next generation of talent across our sector, so we unlock sustainable growth within our own business and construction more widely.”
Andy Rayner, Director of Apprenticeships at Travis Perkins plc, added:
“I am delighted that Travis Perkins Group has reached the milestone of our 1,000th apprentice. This programme provides participants with the skills needed to deliver a construction industry that is fit for the future. This milestone is a testament to the hard work that Travis Perkins plc has done to allow people of all backgrounds to build their career in the construction industry.”
David Hood, Category Assistant at CCF Commercial, said, “I am over the moon to be the 1,000th apprentice graduate and grateful to the team for supporting me throughout the process. The programme has massively developed my business skills, enabled me to do more for our customers and I enjoyed learning with colleagues from across the group. No matter age or profession, I would absolutely recommend taking up the opportunity to do an apprenticeship.”
This announcement follows the recent certification of Travis Perkins plc as a 2023 Top Employer, where the Group was praised for its strong commitment to wellbeing, employee listening and recruitment.
To find out more about apprenticeships at Travis Perkins Group, visit www.tpplccareers.co.uk/apprenticeships
ENDS
NOTES TO EDITORS:
More information about David Hood, Travis Perkins plc’s 1000th apprentice graduate:
David Hood is Category Assistant for CCF, a specialist nationwide distributor of insulation and interior building products for construction customers, which is part of Travis Perkins plc.
Having joined the business from the banking sector in 2019, David was announced as Travis Perkins plc’s 1000th apprentice in February 2023 after having completed his Commercial Awareness Foundation apprenticeship on his manager’s recommendation.
“This apprenticeship has given me the opportunity to learn something new and relevant, and I couldn’t have been better supported by my coach and manager. Through the different modules, I have also expanded my network and met other colleagues from across the Group. This has grounded my insight into how each of our businesses operate; what’s similar and where we are different, and this sharing of information and experiences will ultimately help to improve everyone’s commercial knowledge to the benefit of our Group.
“I would thoroughly recommend this course to any commercial category employees or buyers, as the vast array of topics it covers completely coincides with the role we do, and has massively helped my commercial knowledge. A prime example of this is my learning around supplier negotiations which is a key part of any category manager's role, and has really helped me to develop my own negotiations skills.
“Another example is my understanding of our competitors and customer base, something that is especially important in the current climate, which requires us to always be one step ahead, and I'm a big believer in when we understand our customers, we can work better together with them.”
About his proudest apprenticeship moment, David says: “Gaining a distinction for sure, but I would also say this apprenticeship has given me much greater confidence to stand up and be accounted for in key meetings, something that also helped me when I recently bought my first house and had to work with solicitors and estate agents, make sure I was asking the right questions and they were on the right track with the move.”
Contact:
Corporate Communications
Travis Perkins plc
Tel: 01604 592307
Photographs:
Good quality photographs of David Hood are available here
About Travis Perkins plc
Travis Perkins plc is a leading partner to the construction industry and the UK's leading distributor of building materials to trade customers. The Group operates market leading businesses, including Travis Perkins Builders’ Merchants, Toolstation and a number of specialists in the civils market (Keyline), heating and ventilation (BSS) and drylining and insulation (CCF), and many more. With annual revenues of £4.6bn, the Group employs nearly 20,000 colleagues across the UK, but also in France and Benelux through Toolstation. The company has a proud heritage that spans over 200 years. For more information, please visit www.travisperkinsplc.co.uk
CCF
CCF is a nationwide distributor of insulation and interior building products to the UK construction industry and part of Travis Perkins plc. The business holds comprehensive stocks of quality products and provides complete solutions for interior building specialists, contractors and builders. For more information, see www.ccfltd.co.uk
