Ingleton Wood apprentice attends “inspirational” parliamentary fair to represent young people in construction Friday, 24th June 2022

Asma Parker, an apprentice at our Colchester office, attended the parliamentary apprenticeship fair in the heart of London to meet with “inspiring” MPs passionate about developing young people’s skills.

The 19-year-old is now encouraging more young people to consider apprenticeships in construction for the opportunities and hands-on experience they provide.

Ingleton Wood offers degree apprenticeships for future architects, engineers and surveyors in association with London South Bank University (LSBU) and Anglia Ruskin University, Chelmsford. The qualifications were launched in 2015 to help remove “outdated stigma” over vocational qualifications. Apprentices study at university and work part-time without having to pay tuition fees.

Asma joined our Colchester office at the start of her four-year Level 6 Architectural Assistant Apprenticeship in 2021 where she works part-time while studying.

At the parliamentary apprenticeship fair at Portcullis House in Westminster, Asma met Emma Hardy, MP for Kingston upon Hull West and Hessle since 2017; and Toby Perkins, MP for Chesterfield since 2010.

Asma said: “I recently attended the parliamentary apprenticeship fair to represent LSBU and Ingleton Wood, where I was able to network with other apprentices and companies that supported apprenticeships. I also got the privilege of meeting MPs Emma Hardy and Toby Perkins and was able to converse about the magnificent opportunities and hands-on experience apprenticeships offer.

“Both were very positive and keen to hear about my experience and opinions of the course as well as being very adamant in pushing for degree apprenticeships to become more well known as an alternative route to traditional full-time university as a higher education option.

“I was truly inspired by both and grateful to LSBU for the invite to take part in such a fruitful opportunity.”

Asma added: “For the past ten months I’ve found the apprenticeship to be engaging as well as challenging. Ingleton Wood’s overwhelming support, such as having one-to-one mentoring sessions on my university work, allowed me to confidently hand in my final project at the end of the year.

“Since then, I’ve had a chance to spend more time in the office focusing on improving my understanding of work in practice, and developing my personal skills such as doing virtual training courses on design software.”

Holly Sutherland, apprenticeship coordinator at Ingleton Wood, said: “Ingleton Wood has a strong track record of promoting youth and building up our workforce with homegrown talent, and we are so proud of Asma who has already developed her skills significantly. There are so many opportunities that come with an architecture apprenticeship – the sky really is the limit.

“Asma is an incredible ambassador for Ingleton Wood, and we are proud to have been represented by her at the parliamentary apprenticeship fair. It’s wonderful to hear that the MPs she met, like us, are passionate about increasing awareness of degree apprenticeships as a fantastic option for higher education.”

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