New recruits
I heard about the apprentice scheme through my dad, because Matt and he are friends. I've been on the scheme 5 months now and I really like the people I work with and the physical work. I do a lot of lifting, carrying and walking which keeps me fit and strong. I’ve become much stronger over the past 5 months, for instance, lifting 21s (the longest tubes) was hard, but now it’s easy. The hardest thing for me, has been the early morning starts at 7.30am, which will soon be 6.30am.
Before I started with MK Scaffolding, I was doing labouring for a builder, the days went quickly, but I prefer scaffolding because of the change of scenery; going to different sites such as Rickmansworth, where we’re helping build a new Premier Inn and the other day we were at The Open University putting up scaffolding for the renovation of a church. We had to lift the kit up on a pully system; rope and wheel, which is the first time I’ve used it. At MK Scaffolding, you’re with different people all the time which keeps it interesting. Matt gives regular tool-box talks, with this apprenticeship scheme you can train on the job. I’ll be doing my induction and Part 1 in the next few weeks which I’m really looking forward to.My advice to any new apprentice would be to keep working hard, be safe and do what you’re told because elements of the job are quite dangerous.
(left to right, James Walker, Corey Robertson, Matt Bowler, Jordan Taylor, Matt Legg)
MK Scaffolding Specialists next generation
I saw the ad for young apprentices in Celebrate MK and thought I’d get in touch. I’ve only been here four weeks, but so far I’ve found it really inspiring as I’ve had the opportunity to work on projects at Chelsea Flower Show and last weekend, helped build the Media Platforms for Trump’s State Visit at Buckingham Palace.
It’s great to be working for a firm that is accredited locally and nationally and run by someone who knows a lot about the business he runs. The apprentice scheme will allow me to learn the ins and outs of scaffolding and get my part 1 and part 1 qualifications and COTS whilst I work. I’ve been enrolled in the college and later in the year I will attend a residential in order to progress.
The highlight so far has been working at Buckingham Palace. Not many people can say they’ve been inside or in the grounds. The first day was a bit hard getting used to the manual labour as the tubes are really heavy and the 6.30am start is the earliest I’ve ever had to get up, but I actually don’t feel tired and actually find I get more out of the day and when I get home I sleep better in the evening.
Everyone at MK Scaffolding is a great laugh and with Matt you can tell he’s got a lot of experience of training scaffolders; you can see how he wants things done and how he runs his business and you can transfer that into how you run your day to day jobs. There’s an ethos here that you pick up instantly. The other lads have also explained everything to me in great detail and they know I’m happy to crack on.