TRAINING FOCUS: BRADFORDS


N


ational Apprenticeship Week 2021 highlighted the value of supporting the next generation. This is something that the 250 year- old family-owned independent builders merchant Bradfords takes very seriously indeed. “As a family-owned business, people are at the heart of what we do,” says CEO David Young. “We know our future depends on not only developing our existing employees, but also attracting new talent and providing them with opportunities to progress. Especially as we work in an industry that often struggles to recruit.”


The company set up the Bradfords Group Apprenticeship Programme in 2017, as part of its aim to ‘Grow Our Own’ – ensuring there is a continued intake of talent, who have the support they need to build their


BRADFORDS TALENT TRAIL


TREKS THE


Bradfords Building Supplies’ CEO David Young tells BMJ how the company’s apprenticeship programme has proved a big success for the company careers with the business.


Young says that the programme has become crucial in providing an ongoing


pipeline of new team members to help push the busines forward. “It’s also playing a part in the work we do to create and maintain sustainable communities wherever we operate”.


How it works


Bradfords’ apprentices receive a focused training programme with the aim of allowing them to become multi-skilled in their role. As such, while the company encourages the intake of apprentices across the business, only those managers who can commit and devote the time required to support a learner during their apprenticeship are given authorisation to employ one.


In the short-term, the focus is on ensuring 20 www.buildersmerchantsjournal.net March 2021


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