Travis Perkins Apprenticeship Scheme Awarded 'Good' OFSTED Rating

Travis Perkins plc, the UK’s largest distributor of building materials and a leading partner to the construction industry, is pleased to announce that its apprenticeship scheme has been awarded a ‘Good’ Ofsted rating in all areas of assessment. 

The report notably found that: 

• Travis Perkins’ apprentices enjoy their course and are positive about their experience, and many gain promotion.
• Programme leaders have a very good understanding of the construction sector and ensure apprentices receive insights into key sector drivers in the industry, such as sustainability and retrofitting current housing stock to comply with sustainability standards. 
• Apprentices benefit from experienced and well qualified staff who guide them carefully through their learning, and they value the high quality of their learning materials, training and online sessions.
• Leaders work widely and closely with national partners, such as employers’ trailblazer groups which help leaders to influence and promote training across the construction industry.
• There is a commitment to raising the profile of groups traditionally underrepresented in the construction industry, resulting in an apprentice population increasingly reflective of the diversity of the UK’s workforce. 

Travis Perkins is a top 100 Apprenticeship Employer and a  leading provider of apprenticeships in the UK, with a focus on both encouraging individuals to join the construction industry through its range of entry level programmes, as well as upskilling those already in role through career development apprenticeships. The Group, which offers apprenticeships in all its market leading businesses, including Travis Perkins Builders’ Merchants, Toolstation, Keyline, BSS and CCF  has over 1,250 individuals currently on apprenticeship programmes, covering a range of subjects including Sales, Buying and Merchandising, Data and Management. 

It is widely understood that the construction sector is suffering from a major skills shortage,

with industry sources estimating the need for over 200,000 new workers by 2027 to meet forecast demand. The skills shortage has been compounded not only by the urgent need for traditional skills, but also by the growing range of new skill sets required to deliver the UK’s priorities, such as modernising the construction industry and helping to meet net zero targets. 

Travis Perkins is constantly evolving its award winning Apprenticeship offering to ensure the next generation of workers have the skills required to meet the demands of the future – whether that be around supporting customers to achieve net zero or evolving digital capabilities. Already, all of Travis Perkins’ apprenticeship programmes include a module on ESG, whilst plans are afoot to integrate a new data and digital module into the apprenticeship programmes. 

Furthermore, to help meet industry demand, earlier this year, Travis Perkins announced its landmark target to train 10,000 apprentices by 2030. To support this, Travis Perkins has recently extended its Apprenticeship offering to the wider industry via the Builders Merchants Federation, to attract new and more diverse talent to construction, and to accelerate the learning of new skills needed to sustain the industry for the future. 

Andy Raynor, Director of LEAP Apprenticeships and Early Careers, commented: “The Ofsted report findings are a fantastic vote of confidence in Travis Perkins’ apprenticeship programme. Apprenticeships are a crucial vehicle for upskilling not just our workforce, but also serving the construction industry of the future, and I am very proud of Travis Perkins’ role at the forefront of this.” 

Emma Rose, Chief HR Officer at Travis Perkins plc, commented: “Travis Perkins is committed to building better communities and modernising construction by developing the next generation – this Ofsted report is a testament to our talented teams’ dedication to our vision. 

“I am particularly pleased about the report’s  recognition that our efforts to improve diversity are helping to raise the profile of groups traditionally underrepresented in the construction industry. Nearly half of our apprentices are challenged by living in disadvantaged areas, and this report recognises how these apprentices have found in us a workplace that will support and foster their potential, with a majority of them achieving high grades and going on to further study and promotions. 

Having recently extended our apprenticeship offering to the wider industry, this report should also give confidence to those employers in the industry who entrust their apprentices to us, that we will help them to accelerate the learning of new skills needed for their businesses and the industry for the future. 

The Ofsted report can be viewed here in full and you can read more about Travis Perkins’ Apprenticeship which has been ranked top 11th in the UK by the apprentices themselves here.

Source : Travis Perkins PLC

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