Priyanka Mistry (pictured right) has started her placement with Seddon Construction following her attendance at a Power Up recruitment day.
Priyanka has a passion for art, and has been inspired to take her interest and develop it further, transferring key skills into her role at Seddon.
She is relishing her new role at Seddon and is highlighting the creative roles that the construction industry can offer young people. Since starting her apprenticeship in May, she has been working with the bid-writing team, who are essential part of the process when applying for new projects. Priyanka has also been supporting the marketing team, and will be writing a blog about her experiences, she is looking forward to her first site visit.
Priyanka says: “I’m learning new skills and getting the opportunity to be creative. I’d encourage young people to keep their options open and look at the training opportunities an apprenticeship can offer you. I’m learning a lot and seeing first-hand the skills that are needed by employers”
“Many people look at going down traditional routes like accountancy and the law, but people my age should definitely take a look at the construction industry because it offers a wide range of jobs, including creative roles, which offer interesting and rewarding careers.
“I’m looking forward to the experiences my apprenticeship at Seddon will bring me in the months ahead and where it will take me in my future career.”
Bolton-based Seddon has grown from a small family run business to be one of the UK’s largest privately owned and family managed contracting business, employing over 650 people. Last year it celebrated its 125th birthday and the company has a proud history of taking on apprentices dating back 80 years. Each year Seddon onboards between 10 to 20 apprentices with many going on to become long-term employees of the company. Contrary to popular perceptions of the construction industry, the apprenticeships offered go far beyond traditional roles, such as bricklaying, and cover all the areas that support the industry from administration to marketing. Despite already being a major employer of apprentices, Seddon was keen to take on a Power Up Agency apprentice to further explore the creative roles that the construction sector can offer.
Alyssa Sharkey (pictured below), Senior Bid Coordinator at Seddon, says: “We’re delighted to be working with the Power Up Agency to offer Priyanka this apprenticeship. People do still sometimes have an outdated view of the construction industry, believing it’s still male-dominated and all about working on building sites. In fact, there are many different roles within the industry, including high-tech and creative roles”
“More women are coming into the industry all the time and not just in the support roles, so it is becoming much more diverse than it used to be. We have a number of long-standing employees and we have people who’ve followed their family into the business, which shows what good career opportunities construction can offer.”
About Power Up Agency
The Power Up Agency was launched last year by Greater Manchester Chamber with the support of the Department of Digital, Culture, Media, and Sport, The Arts Council, and the Greater Manchester Combined Authority. The innovative agency aims to enhance on-the-job learning, cultivate skills development, and promote workplace progression. If you think your organisation could host a Power Up apprentice like Priyanka you can find out more at www.powerupagency.co.uk.
Pictures by Dimona Dougherty