Huyton Asphalt and HA Civils have collaborated to launch a new apprenticeship pathway for highway maintenance operatives at Hugh Baird College.
Split between the college and the Huyton Asphalt Knowsley facility, the Huyton Asphalt's HA Highways Academy is thought to be the first of its kind for the Liverpool City Region and is designed to combat the ‘critical skills shortage' in the construction and highways sector by ‘fostering local talent from across the region'.
The new 24-month apprenticeship features both theoretical education at Hugh Baird College and practical, hands-on, paid training that will prepare the apprentices for road surfacing, underground services location, traffic management, pavement repair and sustainable practices.
James Blennerhassett, managing director of Huyton Asphalt, said: ‘As an award-winning business rooted in St Helens, Knowsley and Liverpool, we're proud to partner with HA Civils and Hugh Baird College to deliver real-world training and education that addresses the important regional skills gap and supports economic growth across the city region.'
Rachel Hennigan, principal and chief executive of Hugh Baird College, added: ‘This partnership is a great example of how colleges and employers can work together to tackle skills shortages in a meaningful, practical way. It creates clear opportunities for people from across our communities to gain experience, earn while they learn, and progress into skilled careers.'
Peter Dowd MP, chair of the Liverpool City Region All-Party Parliamentary Group, said: ‘It's always great to see local businesses like Huyton Asphalt working with our outstanding local education-providers like Hugh Baird College to offer apprenticeships in much-needed roles. This will ensure local young people gain the skills they need to secure well-paying jobs building high-quality infrastructure across the Liverpool City Region and beyond.'
The first cohort for the Highway Maintenance Operative pathway kicked off their apprenticeship journey last December and are already immersed in both the business and the industry's day-to-day operations and processes.
