Bramall Construction on school leaver recruitment

With recruitment of just 13% from school leavers, Bramall Construction calls for Jamie Oliver-style representative to raise the profile and appeal of construction as a highly skilled career option.

Bramall Construction calls for a Jamie Oliver-style champion to entice school pupils.

With an average recruitment response of just 13% from school leavers, Bramall Construction is calling for a Jamie Oliver-style representative to raise the profile and appeal of construction as a highly skilled career option for students.

Salaries within the construction industry are much higher than they are perceived with average annual earnings reaching GBP40k for a quantity surveyor, GBP29k for a foreman and GBP42k for a contract manager.*.

Yet construction is a career overlooked by high achievers due to an outdated reputation that is seen by many as both sexist and low skilled.

In a bid to revamp the industry's image and overcome these negative stereotypes, Bramall Construction is calling for a high profile role model that can use his or her status to promote the industry as a financially rewarding career option and not just a fall-back plan for those that leave school without any qualifications.

Dave Prescott, managing director of Bramall Construction, said: "What we need is someone who can raise the profile of this industry just like Jamie Oliver has done on the importance of healthy eating and school dinners".

"Not enough school pupils realise the huge range of job roles that can be found in construction and just how financially rewarding they can be".

"The industry is considered low skilled and low paid and is often bypassed by bright, talented individuals, but the reality is the building site is not the place it used to be".

"Many construction roles have salaries on par with professional careers".

"It demands sharp, intelligent workers and offers real opportunity for career development".

Bramall praises Manchester plumber Oliver Watson who last week significantly boosted the image of construction across Europe single handed.

Oliver, who was French-trained, topped the annual apprentice league table in France and is due to meet French president Nikolas Sarkozy in September.

Oliver said: "After school I initially trained in art and design but I didn't really enjoy it and after I had qualified I found myself in limbo".

"So I went to France where my parents now live and there I met a plumber who gave me a start and took me on as an apprentice".

"I loved it from day one and never looked back".

Bramall Construction is also working with national skills organisation Construction Skills to promote the industry to pupils across the North West region and has enlisted five young employees to act as construction ambassadors.

The ambassadors have been touring the region's schools to meet pupils from years six to ten with the aim of visiting 40 schools per year.

They cover a diverse range of roles from across the industry from training and HR to site management and resident liaison.

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