For the last three years, the city of Hull has been nurturing its construction workforce in preparation for the rebounding of the building and construction economy.

The city’s Construction Works scheme operates under the Cityworks brand and is part of the overall initiative that is run by the city’s businesses to try to make sure that they cultivate the skills needed to sustain and develop industry in the region.

Construction Works is the segment of the programme that focuses on young people looking to take their first step on a career in construction. Since its apprenticeship programme was launched ten years ago – in partnership with some of the biggest names in British construction – some 230 young people have passed through the programme, gaining training and experience. The programme has been so successful that 106 of the young people have left their training having already been snapped up as employees in the construction industry of the East Riding of Yorkshire.

Leading construction firms such as Morgan Sindall, Sewell Group, Moortown Construction and BAM have all picked meticulous and hard-working young tradesmen and women from the Construction Works programme, offering valuable long-term employment opportunities to them.

Cityworks general manager, Catherine Bishop, said that they want to make sure that the abundant potential in the young people of Hull is not lost.

“The idea behind launching the Construction Works apprenticeship programme was to reach out to young people who are faced with barriers to work and learning,” she told the Hull Daily Mail. “By working with companies in the city, we have been able to build up some good relationships with them and offer our apprentices a pathway into sustainable work.”

Construction Works has been particularly beneficial during the recession and the construction market slump, when companies were unable to make the long-term commitment to training programmes of two or three years. Construction Works has developed a system where apprentices have been able to move from company to company as demand has dictated, which has also allowed them to take part in a full frame of tasks and training.

The programme was heavily involved in Hull’s