Josh on way to becoming top project manager
A young carpenter from Telford is on his way to becoming a project manager for a multi-million pound contractor – having launched his career with an apprenticeship.
Josh Prescott skipped doing A-levels at Abraham Darby Academy, and went straight into a six-year carpentry apprenticeship with local firm Paveaways Ltd.
Now Josh, 25, from Telford, is making his way towards a career in project management, working on the prestigious Rolls-Royce owned Controls and Data Services (CDS) building in Birmingham for major contractor BAM Construction.
"The apprenticeship was exactly what I needed at the time," he said.
"I never fancied A-levels and I liked practical things, and it's proved to be the best stepping stone for my career. I was able to earn money and even gain some management experience running some carpenters, and when I joined BAM, that really appealed to them."
His job certainly needs practical skills. The £50 million project includes a massive mechanical and electrical challenge, and Mr Prescott added: "I've been given responsibility for half the ground floor. It's such a specialist facility manufacturing aircraft components; you've never seen so many parts."
Since he joined Birmingham-based BAM Construction, Josh's experience has included working on two Shelton projects – the Severn Trent Water depot and the Redwoods Centre, but also Aston University's student village complex, Harborne Academy, and East Midlands Airport, before his current posting as assistant site manager at the CDS scheme.
Another apprentice making waves is Shrewsbury College's Aaron Hughes, who is studying his level 2 apprenticeship in Brickwork and working for English Construction.
He landed a regional award from the Federation of Master Builder's Apprentice of the Year Award 2015 scheme, and was handed his award at a ceremony in London by Channel 4's Building the Dream and Homes by the Sea presenter, Charlie Luxton.
"It was a really fun opportunity to go down to the national final in London," said Aaron. "Meeting Charlie Luxton, who has been on a lot of building programmes and receiving my certificate from him was a really unique opportunity."
Nathan Buckley, site manager at English Construction, won the Master Builder Regional Apprentice of the Year Awards himself in 2011.
He added: "Aaron has been working with us for 18 months on the multi-million renovation of the historic Lady Forester Nursing Home in Much Wenlock. He's getting on really well with us and in his apprenticeship. According to his Shrewsbury College tutor he is really advanced for his level."
