During a visit to the VGC Group head office in Ruislip, MP Nick Hurd praised the company’s commitment to supporting new entrants to the construction and rail industries.
The minister of parliament for Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner visited the VGC Group office to meet some of their apprentices working on schemes including the Crossrail and the East Kent resignalling project. He also met representatives from MiddletonMurray, apprenticeship and recruitment provider, which provides the training for the apprentices to achieve their NVQ level 2 in Basic Construction Skills, Rail Engineering and Track Maintenance.
Nick Hurd said: “The VGC Group’s apprentice scheme offers valuable opportunities to get training and career direction in a very exciting industry. I really enjoyed chatting to the apprentices and hearing their stories. They are remarkable young people and I am delighted they are doing so well, and I wish them all the best in their future careers.”
“This is part of a very positive national picture where across England more than 1.9 million apprenticeships have been started since 2010 – with the number of apprenticeships having more than doubled in this Parliament.”
As part of the VGC Group’s commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion, the company works on removing barriers in relation to accessing employment and development activities. A programme of internships, work placements and work experience, graduate training as well as apprenticeships encourages young people into careers in engineering, construction and rail.
As well as talking to five of VGC’s apprentices, Nick Hurd also met two people who started as business administration apprentices at the VGC Group and are now full-time permanent employees.
Ciara Pryce, Group Services Director, said: “VGC believes that as a company we have a responsibility to support new entrants to the industry. Apprentices offer sustainable employment opportunities as well as helping to tackle the skills shortage in the construction and rail industries.”
Nick Hurd spent time talking to Lee Van Cliff, who is working in Whitechapel on Crossrail, and Lloyd Bradbery, Thomas Schofield, Dane Hills and Curtis Stimpson, who are working in Rochester on the East Kent resignalling project to upgrade the Network Rail route in Kent. He also met Nirvana Murray and Alex Dalton, both of whom started as apprentices at VGC and are now full-time permanent employees.
Jenny Shepherd, Associate Director of MiddletonMurray, said: “MiddletonMurray are proud to be working with a employer like VGC who believe in young people and who continuously strive to invest in the career progression of their staff. Nick Hurd MP was able to see today just how the partnership between the VGC Group and MiddletonMurray has enabled young apprentices to progress in the business to their benefit, both personally and professionally. Working with VGC is a real example of how apprenticeships should work and MiddletonMurray look forward to developing our partnership further with VGC and to continuing to play our part in helping young people develop with such an outstanding employer as the VGC Group.”
Below: Nick Hurd, MP, with the apprentices and company representatives
