Apprentices - the Life Blood of Construction, or a Soft Option?

LONDON, February 28, 2011 /PRNewswire/ --

- 'Under Construction - the Apprentice Experience' - Film Launches Today.

CITB-ConstructionSkills is getting its hands dirty. In a new three-part documentary series, 'Under Construction - the Apprentice Experience,' launched today by construction industry bible Building magazine in association with CITB-ConstructionSkills, three high profile leaders swap their suits and office wear for high visibility jackets and hard hats. Their voyage? To discover what apprenticeships are really like and the contribution they make to the construction industry.

Visit: http://www.building.co.uk/csfilm to watch the first film.

In the first film, Deputy Chairman CITB-ConstructionSkills Judy Lowe becomes an apprentice for the day at Hadley Shopfitters in Portsmouth, a 70 year old joinery and shopfitting specialist. Hadley works with some of the leading names in the UK retail, hotel and museum sectors including Harrods, Selfridges Hotel and the Natural History Museum.

Apprenticeships have long divided opinion. For some young people, they are seen as the soft option to a university education, and in these tough economic times, some businesses consider them to be an expensive luxury.

The series will explore the reality of apprenticeships - whether they are viable for businesses in tough market conditions, whether they really do add value to the industry, and what role they have in helping businesses prepare for the upturn.

Notes to Editors:

Building is the UK's leading magazine for construction professionals featuring the latest news, expertise and intelligence from the building industry.

CITB-ConstructionSkills are the Sector Skills Council and Industry Training Board for the construction industry, working with industry, for industry to deliver a safe, professional and fully qualified UK construction workforce.

SOURCE Building (magazine)