Apprentice Bricklayer starts laying his foundations ready for the future ahead.

Apprentice bricklayer starts to learn his trade as he gains experience on Tewkesbury Schools new refurbishment.

Ryan Merchant, 17 from Gloucester started his apprenticeship with E G Carter & Co Ltd back in September 2018 after finishing his GCSE's at Severn Vale School. Ryan chose a practical apprenticeship as this was more in line with his future aspirations of becoming a qualified tradesperson.

After 15 months of experience and attending college once a week to learn the theory behind his apprenticeship, Ryan has been on a range of different sites completing work at Cirencester Library and varying other sectors ranging from healthcare, leisure and residential but is now based on site at Robinswood Hill as he helps with the new internal refurbishment and extension. Thanks to our own experienced bricklayers, Ryan is spending his time shadowing and learning from their experience and knowledge they have gained over the years.

Year on year E G Carter & Co Ltd maintain an ongoing commitment to attend and support numerous career and employment fairs across Gloucestershire. The events allow School and University leavers to express interest in the Company's various trainee schemes. Many of the Companies Senior employees, Contracts Managers, Project Managers, Senior Surveyors and Site Managers began their career journey as an Apprentice or Management Trainee.

Joshua Carter, Apprenticeship Mentor at E G Carter & Co Ltd said " We recognise that over the last few years construction skills shortages have hit a ‘record high’ therefore the importance of having apprentices like Ryan are extremely valuable. We are looking forward to seeing Ryan progress and become the bricklayer he is intended to be.”

E G Carter & Co Ltd currently have 11 Apprentices and Management Trainees with the ambition to take on another 2-4 in September this year.