National Apprenticeship Week (7-11 February 2011) is now in full swing. Its aim is to reverse the trend of the past 20 years that has left just 8% of employers offering apprenticeships.
Among those who do are historic building and specialist stone contractors Cathedral Works Organisation (CWO) in Chichester. They have been operating an apprenticeship programme since 1965 and their first apprentice, Richard Mitchell, is still working with them, now as a contracts manager.
For CWO, investing in skills development is a no-brainer. Bernard Burns, Managing Director at CWO, says: “Our apprenticeship programme is fundamental to building our business and our reputation for skilled craftsmanship, as well as ensuring skilled craftsmen for future generations.
“It costs £90,000 to train an apprentice over three years and we have three to six apprentices working for us at any one time. This is a significant investment in both time and money but we have built our reputation on the quality of our staff.”
CWO’s investment in training is paying the company dividends with James Elsey, a 20-year-old apprentice at the firm, being presented with the joint winner of the Trainee Mason of the Year Award at the Stone Federation’s Natural Stone Awards, held at Lords Cricket Ground in London in November.
James won the award for his impressive samples of work, his attitude and passion and ambition. His achievement marks yet another training success for CWO, who have carried out high profile restoration work at the Tower of London, Buckingham Palace and many other historic buildings and stately homes.
This is the second time CWO apprentices have won the award in two years and demonstrates the company’s commitment to training the craftsmen of the future at a time of skills shortages across the construction industry.
A thriving, independently-owned business, CWO are one of the UK’s leading historic building and restoration companies employing 100 people at their workshop and head offices in Chichester and offices in London and Kent.
CWO have gained a reputation as historic buildings contractors through award-winning work on high-profile projects that include restoration work at The Monument in London and the Devereux Tower at the Tower of London, as well as the slightly unusual relocation and reconstruction of Temple Bar.
Recent projects include Buckingham Palace, the Real Tennis Court at Hampton Court and the restoration and rebuilding of the St Lawrence Jewry Memorial Fountain for the City of London Corporation.
CWO’s work includes restoration of bridges, castles, churches, country walls, famous schools including Roedean and Christ’s Hospital, stately homes including Petworth House, Goodwood House and Wiston House, conservation of memorial crosses across the South, as well as restoration work for individuals on bay windows, fireplaces and patios. They also have a thriving business in installing new cantilevered spiral staircases.