The first apprentices to be placed by the Builders Merchants Federation’s (BMF’s) accredited Apprenticeship Training Agency (ATA), start work this month.
The BMF ATA is acting as the formal employer of two of the apprentices who have been placed with member companies. Andrews Building Supplies’ Peterborough branch is hosting apprentice Harry Osman, and Beers’ Bromborough branch is hosting apprentice Michael Comber. Both are undertaking Level 2 Apprenticeships in Trade Business Services.
Two more BMF member companies have directly employed apprentices with the support of the BMF ATA. Chandlers Building Supplies has taken on Billy Hunt at its Halesowen branch as a Level 2 Warehouse and Storage apprentice, and are already looking to take on a second apprentice.
Meanwhile, Emerys decided to use the scheme to upskill Jack Rowley, an existing employee at its Stoke-on-Trent branch, who is now working towards a Level 2 Trade Business Services qualification. Emerys is also working with the BMF ATA to recruit an accounting apprentice.
Richard Ellithorne, Membership Services Director at the BMF, said: “It’s encouraging to see the BMF Apprenticeship Plus scheme being used in the two different ways we envisaged. By acting as the employer, the BMF ATA removes potential administrative hurdles making it easy for BMF members to take on an apprentice in any job role.
“BMF Apprenticeship Plus also helps those members who are happy to directly employ an apprentice to recruit and train a suitable candidate. The BMF ATA opens up a far wider portfolio of established and pre-vetted training providers offering new qualifications and funded training opportunities.”
