Bradford College among first to offer construction course

The Higher Level Apprenticeship in sustainable built environment will provide work-based learning at university level.

The course, which starts this month, will see students study towards an NVQ Level 5 in construction management (sustainability) and a Higher National Diploma in construction and the built environment, as well as selecting construction, civil engineering or building services as a specialist subject.

Successful participants will be able to pursue a career in a wide range of disciplines including architecture, building services, civil engineering, construction management, maintenance, planning and surveying.

Jay Gregson, 19, of Liverpool, works as an air condition engineer for an international firm and was the first person in the UK to enrol on the course.

He said: “I’ve just finished a Level 3 Apprenticeship but want to carry on learning and gaining qualifications, but university and the costs associated with it still didn’t appeal to me. This new HLA qualification offers the best of both worlds because I’ll still earn a wage, the course is paid for by my employer and it effectively offers three qualifications rolled into one, so it will give me lots of career options in the future.”

Sarah Carter, a UK-based higher apprenticeship project manager, said: “This qualification has been developed with employers, colleges, universities and all the leading sector skills councils in order to add real value to the industry by creating a skilled workforce that is productive and can help businesses to grow.”

Lee Firth, technical programme manager at NG Bailey, which has 3,000 workers throughout the UK, has enrolled some of its employees on the course.

He said: “There’s no doubt it will encourage new people into the industry and help to produce quality employees who meet the standard academically and can deliver in the workplace.”

For details, visit hasbe.co.uk.