CITY Building has announced a record rise in apprenticeship applications after partnering with yattle, a youth-focused jobs app connecting early-career talent with employers across the UK.
The Glasgow-based construction and maintenance company, which employs more than 230 apprentices, worked with the organisation to widen access to apprenticeship opportunities and engage with young people who are often harder to reach through traditional recruitment methods.
The partnership has delivered significant results, with City Building receiving 980 apprenticeship applications – the highest number in its history and almost double the total from the previous year.
Applications from women increased by 116%, marking the highest number of female applicants the organisation has ever received. Applications from ethnic minority candidates also rose by 43%, increasing from 10.9% to 15.6% of the total applicant pool.
Tracy Keenan, director of people services at City Building, said, “Apprenticeships have always been central to City Building and these results show what can be achieved when opportunities are promoted in new and more accessible ways. We are particularly encouraged by the increase in applications from women. City Building proudly supports the highest number of female craft apprentices in Scotland and we are passionate about showing that construction offers rewarding, long-term careers for everyone.
“This partnership with yattle has helped us connect with talented young people from communities across Glasgow who may not otherwise have considered a career in the sector. Creating those opportunities is hugely important, not only for individuals, but for the future of the industry and the wider economy.”
City Building said the increase in applications will help strengthen the pipeline of skilled workers entering the construction sector at a time when demand continues to grow across Scotland.
Alison McRae, senior director at Glasgow Chamber of Commerce and director of yattle, added, “yattle’s mission is to help businesses connect with local talent more effectively, and our partnership with City Building is delivering exactly that. These results demonstrate the value of targeted recruitment through the right platforms, ensuring opportunities are visible, accessible and promoted in a way that resonates with young people. By doing so, we are helping talented individuals discover career paths they may not have previously considered or believed were open to them.”
