Employer case study: Elijah Willow - Supporting progress in the construction industry

Local construction firm Elijah Willow Construction provides innovative, unique, and high-quality design and build services. This includes full design and build construction, as well as bespoke furniture (creating unique pieces for clients all over the world!), and also small works and property maintenance services.

Gloucestershire College proudly partners with Elijah Willow as their apprenticeship training provider. We caught up with Dan Ponting, Director at Elijah Willow to find out what part apprentices play in his successful business.

Why does your company choose to recruit apprentices / upskill existing staff through apprenticeships?

We want to play our part in ensuring the construction industry progresses in the right direction, keeping up to date with new ideas, skills and technologies. For us a key way to do this is to recruit fresh apprentices, with a long term plan to grow them into the business.

Tell us about the role your apprentices have within your organisation and how apprentices can progress in your business.

We have several roles for apprentices within our organisation, primarily Bricklayers and Carpenters. We support them in their learning and skills through training and development on site, working alongside our most experienced members of the team.

On successful completion of their apprenticeship there may be the opportunity to join the company as a full-time employee.

How has the apprenticeship programme benefited your business/department/team?

By training people up with skills, right from the start of their trade career, Elijah Willow can help mould them to the high standard and quality we expect, and in turn they become part of the exciting growth with our business.

What qualities do you look for in an apprentice?

For us, the main qualities are those who are willing to learn and have a good attitude toward work and the team.

Would you recommend investing in employee training/apprenticeships to other Gloucestershire businesses?

Yes we definitely would! We try our best to teach life skills along the way as well – that’s something apprentices sometimes haven’t got, life experience which is bigger than just a job.

Ellie Jevons, Business Consultant at GC added, "As a team, we thoroughly enjoy working with Elijah Willow for their apprenticeship provision. We've a long standing working relationship and it's been fantastic to see the business go from strength to strength over the years. Dan is brilliant at supporting apprentices with their ongoing training and learning, often going above and beyond to provide them with the tools and projects to develop their skills, knowledge and behaviours. I always look forward to visiting Elijah Willow and hearing how their apprentices are getting on and the progress they make. Dan and the team do brilliant work in developing apprentices and we're proud to support them as their chosen Training Provider. 

If you are interested in training apprentices with Gloucestershire College, find out more information here, or contact our Employer Training & Apprenticeships Team on 01452 563400 or email employer.training@gloscol.ac.uk