Member Article

Building foundations for the future – brick by brick

Buidling and roofing specialist, Hodgson Sayers, is renowned for sourcing and developing the skills of talented youngsters living close to its base in Stanley.

Earlier this year, the company saw one of its three apprentices recruited in 2012, 21-year-old Paul James, from Consett, County Durham, make the regional heat of the Construction Industry Training Build (CITB) Skills Build event.

Currently, the company is training four new apprentices, 21-year-old Paul Oxley and 17-year-old Jake Hall, both from Stanley and 19-year-old Alexander Atkinson and 16-year-old Adam Neil, both from Chester-le-Street.

As part of their apprenticeship they will also study at Newcastle College to learn more about the theoretical side of the job.

John Sayers, Managing Director at Hodgson Sayers, said: “We take great pride in ensuring that the workforce of the future has the necessary skills to be able to take the company forward.

“It is important to us that we are able to train youngsters from the local area and provide them with full time employment at the end of their apprenticeships.

“It takes time and dedication from both the apprentices and employer to be able to achieve a strong working relationship. All our apprentices have been willing and eager to learn the trade and we are proud to see them go from strength-to-strength.”

Paul Oxley, said: “Having been at Hodgson Sayers for a few months now, I am really enjoying my apprenticeship in flat roofing. I found out about the apprenticeship through a friend of mine who had completed it at the company and decided to go for it myself.

“It’s proving to be invaluable to me, it’s a two year course spent primarily at the company where I am able to gain real hands-on experience at client projects.

“For a couple of weeks a year I will also study at college, where I learn about the theory and technical aspects behind the job whilst also learning all about the health and safety procedures.

“This is a chance to get on the career ladder and learn a solid skill set. It’s also great that I am learning alongside the three other guys as we get to share the experience and learn from each other.”

Established in 1979, as Hodgson & Allon, the company began primarily as a roofing contractor. Over the years it has developed and diversified considerably to include building works, fencing and metalwork fabrication. It was renamed Hodgson Sayers in 2013.

Its ISO 9001 accredited operations are reflected in the consistently high standards of delivery, presentation and all processes.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Hodgson Sayers .