Plumber training courses and apprenticeship schemes offer people the chance to gain lots of new skills, as well as providing a helping hand to the construction industry, Kier has suggested.

The building firm recently revealed that, as part of an agreement with Harrow Council, it is offering career opportunities to a number of local youths on its Whitmore High School development.

As a result, Rowan Streete and Dwayne Carbon have begun three-year apprenticeships covering plumbing, heating and ventilation.

Kier framework manager Richard Weller commented: "The lads are currently working hard, learning lots of different skills and really enjoying their new career prospects."

He added schemes such as this help to create job prospects and eradicate the "looming skills gap" that has been made worse by the recession.

Kier's roots date back to the start of the 1920s and is today involved in construction, civil engineering, opencast mining and facilities management.

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