Builders Merchants Journal – BMJ Publishing to Builders Merchants and the UK merchanting industry for more than 95 years
BMF ATA places first merchant apprentices
The first apprentices to be hired under the Builders Merchants Federation’s (BMF) accredited Apprenticeship Training Agency (ATA), start work this month.
The apprentices will be at BMF members Andrews Building Supplies in Peterborough, Beers’ branch in Bromborough, Chandler Building Suplies in Halesowen.
The BMF ATA is acting as the formal employer Hary Osman at Andrews and Michael Comber at Beers. Both are undertaking Level 2 Apprenticeships in Trade Business Services.
Billy Hunt is being directy employed as a Level 2 Warehouse and Storage apprentice by Chandlers, while Emerys in Stoke-on-Trent decided to use the scheme to upskill Jack Rowley, an existing employee at branch, who is now working towards a Level 2 Trade Business Services qualification. Emerys is also working with the BMF ATA to recruit an Accounting apprentice.
Richard Ellithorne, BMF Membership Services Director said: “It’s encouraging to see the BMF Apprenticeship Plus scheme being used in the two different ways we envisaged. By acting as the employer the BMF ATA removes potential administrative hurdles making it easy for BMF members to take on an apprentice in any job role.
“BMF Apprenticeship Plus also helps those members who are happy to directly employ an apprentice to recruit and train a suitable candidate. The BMF ATA opens up a far wider portfolio of established and pre-vetted training providers offering new qualifications and funded training opportunities.”
