Ingleton Wood pledges to double apprentices to help ‘build back better’

We have announced plans to double the number of our apprentices to help invest in local skills and the economic recovery from the pandemic.

Ingleton Wood is also celebrating after aspiring architect Lily Green became one of the first in the UK to achieve a Level 7 Architecture Apprenticeship – the equivalent of a master’s degree and the highest possible apprenticeship level.

The news comes amid renewed calls for more young people to enter construction during National Apprenticeship Week 2021 (February 8-14). The Construction Industry Training Board says over 1,000 new architects are needed each year to keep up with demand. Our Practice currently has 10 apprentices operating across the region.

Partner David Cresswell said: “National Apprenticeship Week provides the perfect opportunity to highlight the importance of apprenticeships and other vocational pathways to get into construction.

“They provide life-changing opportunities and we look forward to taking on more apprentices and investing in more local people and local skills to help the economy build back better.”

Lily Green, based at our Colchester office, spoke of her pride after achieving the new four-year Level 7 Architecture Apprenticeship. The qualification involves gaining the knowledge and skills defined within architecture specific levels which must be achieved to become registered with the Architects Registration Board (ARB).

Lily, who was among the first cohort in the country and studied at London South Bank University, said: “I am absolutely thrilled and very relieved to have achieved the Level 7 Architect Apprenticeship. The last four years of hard work and sacrifice, bolstered by the fantastic support and sponsorship from Ingleton Wood, has paid off.

“I am proud to be among the first practitioners in the UK to become a qualified architect through this route. I was assigned a practice mentor who motivated and challenged me while it was incredibly useful to harness the expertise of the wider team at Ingleton Wood.”

Architects lead on the processes of planning, designing and reviewing the construction of buildings and are usually the first point of contact in a design team, working with clients and contractors to make final decisions during the design and construction phases.

The 26-year-old, from Ipswich, added: “Apprenticeships are a great route into architecture and the construction industry. You earn a full-time wage while studying and gain a diverse range of up-to-date practical skills and knowledge to future-proof yourself.

“There are so many benefits and I really do urge young people considering their next step or anyone thinking about a career change to look into the opportunities available to them.”

Meanwhile, Max Chapman, an Associate Architect also based at our Colchester office, is celebrating after achieving the same Level 7 qualification, while Toby Oxley has completed a Level 6 Architectural Assistant apprenticeship – equivalent to an undergraduate degree.

Toby, aged 24, said: “I’d highly recommend this route to anyone looking to get into the construction industry because having the real world experience as well as the degree qualification has been invaluable to my career.”

David Cresswell added: “We are very proud of Lily, Max and Toby who have all showed a tremendous amount of self-discipline and dedication to achieve their qualifications. We know they’ll all go on to become shining stars for Ingleton Wood and across the industry.”

For anyone interested in apprenticeship opportunities at Ingleton Wood or to speak to someone about working in construction, email recruitment@ingletonwood.co.uk.