The Barr Group 2022 apprentice search

Alongside National Apprenticeship Week last month, Barr Group celebrated 15 years of its thriving (and award-winning) apprenticeship programme. With a strong legacy of grassroots training and mentoring, we are excited to be launching the 2022 Barr Group apprentice search... for individuals who we hope will go on to become the organisations’ managers of the future.

In September we will be taking on (up to) four new apprentices who will specialise in bricklaying, site carpentry or decorating. They will receive hands-on training and mentoring alongside structured college learning. The goal of our apprenticeship programme is a Level 2 or Level 3 NVQ qualification, with apprentices becoming valued skilled tradespeople within the organisation.

Each Barr Group apprentice is supported by a dedicated mentor (usually a site manager or an experienced skilled tradesperson). They also have the back-up of our Training and Apprenticeship Lead, Charlie Barr and the wider team, who are always on hand to help. If you, or someone you know, might be interested in joining the Barr Group apprenticeship programme please find the application details on the virtual flyer inset above.

Last years’ Barr Group apprentice intake included Harry Alexander (Apprentice Quantity Surveyor) and Joe Binnee (Apprentice Site Carpenter). They are now settled in and enjoying the various challenges we have thrown at them! Here is their advice for this years’ applicants:

Harry: If you know this is something you really want to do, you have to find a way to stand out from the crowd. There will probably be lots of other applicants competing for each position. You will need to show the directors that you are prepared to work hard and that you are keen to learn.

Joe: Be prepared to work hard, think of the future and stay motivated. I joined Barr Build as a nineteen-year-old, having done a couple of years at college and part-time work after GCSEs. This gave me time to work out what I really wanted to do.

At Barr Group many of our ex-apprentices are still with us, some of them now managing sites and overseeing contracts.

Aaron Rogers joined the organisation as an Apprentice Site Carpenter back in 2010. Now a valued and established Barr Build Site Manager, Aaron’s projects include the FMB commended direct to client build ‘Otterley Farmhouse’.

Zak Lafford joined Barr Build as an Apprentice Decorator in 2012. In 2014 he won the FMB Southeast region Apprentice of the Year Award – for his commitment, customer service and excellent workmanship. Zak went on to lead the Barr Build decorating team, training and mentoring young apprentices. He now manages direct to client projects, including the Byrnes Dental Lab refurbishment.

National Apprenticeship Week brought with it a wealth of information for students and parents/carers alike. A great place to start if you are in the Oxfordshire area is OxLEP, an organisation that supports the local economy and then - there is also lots of information on the government's apprenticeship website here: https://www.apprenticeships.gov.uk/apprentices