Bramall Construction is enjoying a double celebration after scooping two coveted awards for the outstanding success of its apprenticeship scheme.

Bramall, (part of the Keepmoat group), was crowned ‘Most Supportive Employer of the Young Apprenticeship Programme 2008’ at the prestigious Lancashire Education Business Partnership (LEBP) Investors in Education awards held in Blackpool.

The Salford-based housing specialists carried on their celebrations when Bramall’s apprentice Amy Eddlestone scooped a prize at this year’s Accrington and Rossendale College ‘Apprentice of the Year’ awards.

The 19-year-old won the ‘Special Achievement Award’ for year two plumbing NVQ Level 2, and is expected to walk away with NVQ level 3 at the end of the 2009 apprenticeship scheme.

Terry Hannon, the Contracts Manager at Bramall Construction, said: “We were completely bowled over by winning the Most Supportive Employer award in Blackpool, our Hyndburn apprenticeship scheme. Amy’s award followed in the same week at the Apprentice of the Year awards which was just fantastic.

“I think the first award is testament to how we go out of our way to provide work experience placements for school children in Hyndburn, to help them progress.

“The Hyndburn team and I are extremely proud of our achievement, particularly as we faced tough competition in this category. Amy also deserves her special achievement award; she’s come on in leaps and bounds this year.

“Amy is a fantastic ambassador for young apprentices and I think she achieved this award through sheer determination. She’s very motivated and her enthusiasm is something that clearly shines through.”

The winning title of ‘Most Supportive Employer of the Young Apprenticeship Programme 2008’ for the organisation’s Hundburn apprenticeship scheme recognises Bramall’s exemplary contribution towards people development.

As part of the Young apprenticeship programme, Bramall has gone out of its way to train 14-16-year-olds in the workplace and assist them in getting their qualifications in construction before leaving school.

Terry said: “We offer the youngsters 50 days work experience over the two year programme where they can come along and witness the work that goes on site. We do everything we can to assist them in gaining their qualifications and moulding them for a successful future in the construction industry.

“It’s a great scheme as you often find that schoolchildren are even more enthusiastic than apprentices, as they have already made up their minds what they want to do at an early age and from an Employers point of view we recognise that when these students do leave school they know what they want to do as a career and will hit the ground running with their employer. Hopefully it will be Bramall Construction.”

Ryan Lawson and Jack Galvin are currently Btec first Diploma in construction students and are year 11 pupils at Accrington Academy. They have gained work experience placements through Bramall Construction and have been working on the Hyndburn Homes Decent homes project for the past 20 weeks. The pair have been carrying out various Construction duties as part of the practical side of their education.

Amy attends Accrington and Rossendale College and on the night of the awards ceremony, which was carried out at Accrington Town Hall, Amy’s tutor Graham Backhouse said: “Amy is a shining example of how Females in Construction have developed and progressed over the years”

“It’s amazing to see how Amy has progressed from being a novice when she first joined us to doing the wonderful job she does now. She’s really improved since working at Bramall and never turns a job down. She’s both talented and enthusiastic about everything she does.”