It is important to us, when we regenerate estates, that we use local labour.

Winner, Jay Bridgen, 17, is employed by our contractor Higgins as part of Swan’s commitment to offer chances to young, local people.

Read about how getting involved with us led him to become a recordbreaking winner.

Local teenager Jay Bridgen, 17, from Essex, won ‘Apprentice of the Year’ working on the regeneration of the Craylands Estate. He is the first to win from the construction industry for 18 years and beat off stiff competition from four other finalists from other industries.

Jay is one of seven apprentices employed on site by our contractor Higgins, as part of Swan’s commitment to employ local labour and offer opportunities to young people.

"I knew Craylands was getting regenerated and that Higgins were at the local Consultation Shop. I spoke to them about doing an apprenticeship. They were offering to pay me, give me on-the-job training and send me to college for one day a week. I was looking for work and was bored out of my head, so thought it was a great opportunity

I’ve been an apprentice for 10 months including the six weeks college course they sent me on to start me off with the basics.

I didn’t know anything about construction to start with and now I’m a Chippy, doing carpentry. I’m getting money and an education.

I know people my age who do nothing and don’t really try. I’m on an apprenticeship and have set up my future, so am quite happy about that.

Higgins put me forward for an Apprentice Award. Basically, I do what they ask me to do and get on with it. It helps if you turn up on time and are enthusiastic.

The Basildon Business Awards interviewed me and asked why I deserved to win - I wasn’t sure what to say, what do you say to that?

I got invited to the awards evening and I even had to buy a suit as I didn’t have  one. There was me against people from four other industries. When they called my name I couldn’t believe it!

Now, I just want to get good at my trade and hope to, one day, become a manager myself.”

Jay is a role model to other young people as his hard work got the attention of our development contractor, Higgins, who put him forward for the award.

The 10-year regeneration of the Craylands and Fryern Estates will see more than 1,200 new homes built and a range of improvements to local amenities and the area’s infrastructure.

Apprenticeships combine college learning with on site experience to ensure the right balance of technical skills and practical experience. You will benefit from the mix of training and real construction site experience.

For more information, or to improve your skills and job prospects contact
Construction Skills, the trainers for the construction industry:
Greater London 0344 994 4411
South East 0344 994 4411
www.cskills.org