Bristol builder Helm Construction has stepped forward in response to an appeal by the Construction Industry Training Board calling on employers to take on apprentices left stranded by the collapse of Carillion.

The CITB believes up to 1,400 apprentices were affected when the construction and services giant went into liquidation last Monday - and has appealed for further funding in order to carry out face to face interviews to find out individual needs.

Helm Construction CEO Gary Sheppard said the fast-growing Bristol builders were eager to help where they could.

“We already have a number of apprentices going through our industry-recognised training programme but we can make room for more given the scale of the calamity which has overtaken Carillion.

“Any Carillion apprentices in the Greater Bristol area should give us a call to see if we can help them out in any way. We can take four carpentry apprentices and two ground working apprentices to help us on a dozen and more sites in and around Bristol.”

Gary Sheppard said:

“We have an award winning reputation for developing team members from within and by constantly investing in new staff we can bring forward the next generation of skilled workers ready to step up when they are needed.

“Our apprentices work towards an NVQ3 – as we find the higher qualification we ask for delivers better trained employees better able to keep abreast of the latest on-site technologies.”

Helm Construction is one of the fastest growing and progressive construction firms in the South West – employing more than 60 people on sites across the Greater Bristol and Bath area and along the M4/M5 corridors.

For further information about possible apprentice opportunities ring 01454 634020.