Congratulations to all six of the McDermotts apprentices who have passed their Level 2 Groundworker apprenticeships and continue their journey as qualified groundworkers.

Congratulations to Alfie Harrigan, Edward Owen, Jack Shaylor, Joe Monk, Joshua Gunn and Tyler Sadowski on reaching this important milestone.

To celebrate their achievement, John Moriarty, Production Director, presented each apprentice with their completion certificate and took the opportunity to reflect on their apprenticeship journey, from what inspired them to choose construction as a career to the skills they have developed and the advice they would give to future apprentices.

For many of the apprentices, the opportunity to earn while they learn was a key factor in choosing an apprenticeship over college or university. Joshua explained that he wanted “to earn money and get a job rather than go to university,” adding that “an apprenticeship is the best way to learn and earn.” Similarly, Tyler preferred “learning whilst earning,” while Jack was attracted by the opportunity to “stay active while continuing to learn”.

Throughout the programme, the apprentices gained valuable practical experience across a range of projects, and Edward highlighted how he learnt essential groundworks skills including drainage, kerbing, paving, ducting, slabbing and the safe operation of plant equipment. They also highlighted the benefits of working on different sites, meeting new people and developing confidence both on and off site.

Tyler reflected on his experience, saying he particularly enjoyed “interacting with different people while doing different jobs on sites,” while Joshua said his favourite part of the apprenticeship was “doing different things every day and being able to learn new things.”

The apprentices also recognised the importance of the training they received throughout the programme. Joshua highlighted the health and safety courses as being particularly valuable, explaining that they are “more important to keep you safe,” while Alfie said completing his dumper and roller training allowed him to contribute more effectively on site.

Like any apprenticeship, there were challenges to overcome. From adapting to life on site and completing portfolio work to learning new skills in a fast-paced environment, each apprentice demonstrated determination and resilience throughout the programme.

Reflecting on their proudest achievements, Edward and Jack were pleased to have passed their End Point Assessment’s, whilst Tyler highlighted the opportunity to work on major projects including HS2 and Staffordshire University.

All of the apprentices said they would recommend the programme to others. Their advice to anyone considering a career in construction included: “ask plenty of questions”, “try your hardest” and to take advantage of the opportunities an apprenticeship provides.

When asked to sum up their apprenticeship in one sentence, the responses reflected a positive and rewarding experience, with descriptions including “a very fun apprenticeship”, “a lot of learning”, “an incredible experience” and “an enjoyable, memorable experience.”

Congratulations once again to Alfie, Edward, Jack, Joe, Joshua and Tyler on completing their apprenticeships. We wish them every success as they continue to develop their careers with McDermotts and look forward to welcoming our next cohort of apprentices later this year in partnership with Salutem.