Construction course pays off for joinery apprentices

L-R: John Quinn, Scott Murray, Sarah Healy, Helena Montague, Stephen Burns (operations manager of Timetra)

THREE female students who completed a construction pre-apprenticeship course at New College Lanarkshire have secured modern apprenticeships in joinery.

Hollie McArthur has been appointed as an apprentice joiner with housebuilder Barratt Homes, while Sarah Healy and Helena Montague have both been offered jobs by Newhouse-based property maintenance firm Timetra.

All three students successfully completed a six-week work placement at Timetra as part of their studies.

Before enrolling on the construction pre-apprenticeship course, Hollie and Helena completed an introductory programme, Females into Construction, at the College’s Motherwell Campus.

Scott Murray, MD of Timetra said, “This is the third year of our successful partnership with New College Lanarkshire and, as a local company, we are delighted to give real-life work experience to young people who are considering in pursuing a career in the construction industry. With this being our 50th anniversary as a construction company, we have great pleasure in employing both Sarah and Helena.

“The construction sector has been very slow in enhancing diversity and change, and I have no doubt these young women will succeed in their chosen professions.”

Construction lecturer John Quinn added, “It is great that a local employer has employed two women into their workforce and I have high hopes for both as they excelled in all their college work. And I am not surprised that Hollie was successful in gaining an apprenticeship with Barratt as she was very capable and completed all her units to a very high standard.

“We can’t wait to welcome Hollie, Sarah and Helena back to the College in August for the start of their first-year apprenticeship training with CITB.”

Staff in the college’s Faculty of Engineering and Automotive arrange work placements for students by working in partnership with Morrison Construction and a number of local firms.