Band of Builders Launches Young Tradespeople Bursary

National construction charity Band of Builders (BoB) is launching a new bursary scheme to provide support towards essential tools & equipment, PPE, workwear and other practical items, needed by young people and apprentices so that they can take their first step on the career ladder in roofing.

The charity – which is an active supporter of industry initiatives such as SkillBuild, works closely with Construction Technical Excellence Colleges (CTEC) across the UK and proactively engages with young learners – has been compelled to act as it has seen at first hand the hurdles that young people face when considering a career in construction.

It unveiled the BoB Bursary at its annual flagship fundraising ball (held at Villa Park in Birmingham), announcing manufacturer and distributor Häfele UK as its national partner in sharing the aim of engaging young people in construction.

Leeds College of Building, Bedford College, and South Staffordshire College have been selected to launch the scheme to existing students. It’s projected that students from more than 250 UK colleges could also benefit from the bursary.

Support for Construction Learners

The introduction of the bursary comes at a time when the government aims to train 40,000 construction learners through Construction Technical Excellence Colleges by 2029.

However, the charity – which is best known for delivering, high-impact home projects to help tradespeople in need – says that creating training opportunities alone will not solve construction’s skills challenge.

The industry also needs to support initiatives such as the BoB Bursary and make sure that young people can afford the practical essentials needed.

Eligible applicants to the BoB Bursary will be able to apply for support towards essential items including tools and equipment, PPE and workwear, as well as other practical items needed to support their training and development.

Next Gen Agenda

The bursary is a key building block of the charity’s Next Generation agenda to encourage more young people to consider construction and help develop the pipeline of skilled people the industry will need in the years ahead.

Gavin Crane, Band of Builders CEO, said: “Construction needs the next generation, but we cannot simply tell young people that this is a fantastic industry and then leave them to overcome the practical barriers of getting started on their own.

“Through our work with colleges and learners, we’ve seen that the cost of tools, PPE and workwear can be a very real obstacle. For a young person at the beginning of their career, those costs can mean the difference between taking an opportunity and having to walk away from it.

“If we are serious about tackling the skills shortage and bringing tens of thousands of new people into construction, we have to remove those barriers.

“The BoB Bursary is about practical action. We want to make sure that talented young people with the ambition and attitude to succeed aren’t prevented from building a career simply because they can’t afford the equipment they need to get started.”

BoB Hafele team (L-R) Hannah Barclay, Richard Curtis, Gavin Crane (BoB) and Emily Halderthay

BoB Thanks Häfele UK’s Support

Speaking about Häfele UK’s support, Gavin added: “We’re delighted to welcome Häfele UK as a strategic partner for the BoB Bursary, helping us create more opportunities for the next generation to build a future in the industry.

“Häfele UK shares our commitment to investing in the future of construction, and brings decades of experience and expertise to the partnership. Together, we can extend the reach and impact of the bursary, helping more young people overcome financial barriers and take their first steps towards a rewarding career in the industry.”

More information on the BoB Bursary can be found here.

>> Read more about Band of Builders in the news