Esh Group has reinforced its dedication to developing the next generation of industry talent after signing up to The 5% Club’s prestigious 2024-25 Employer Audit Scheme.
In its inaugural year, Esh has achieved gold-accreditation membership, which recognises a proactive approach to recruiting and retaining apprentices and graduates, and fostering career opportunities for young people across the construction sector.
With the UK celebrating the 18th National Apprenticeship Week this week, February 10-16th, Esh Group has also integrated a wide range of apprenticeship courses throughout its business operations. In October 2024, 13 new apprentices joined the County Durham-headquartered firm as Esh’s apprenticeship cohort rose to 8% of its workforce.
Darush Dodds, Corporate Affairs & Social Value Director at Esh Group said: “Esh has a proud history of nurturing talent with many of our long-serving colleagues starting their journey as apprentices. We are dedicated to developing the next generation of professionals and are passionate about providing opportunities for growth.
“In recent years we have also sought to cast the net wider in our apprenticeship and training options, so it is brilliant to see staff chomping at the bit to get involved in new courses that are becoming available.”
Traditional routes for construction-themed apprenticeships have seen continued sign-ups to quantity surveying, engineering and groundworks, but this year, Esh has introduced a Corporate Responsibility & Sustainability apprenticeship to the mix. With the course aligning with Esh’s ambitions to work towards a more sustainable way of doing business, 39-year-old mum of two Rachael Thompson, is hoping the course will not only grow her own skillsets and understanding, but back up Esh’s journey toward an ‘Even Greener’ future.
The Social Value Coordinator, who delivers a range of employability and careers workshops to students in communities in which Esh operates, said: “We place great emphasis on corporate responsibility at Esh, and sustainability is such a huge topic within that. It’s really given me an opportunity to learn more about Esh and several areas of the business I hadn’t previously encountered.
“What’s great about this opportunity is that it shows there’s no set path in life, and learning doesn’t stop when you reach a certain age. Apprenticeships aren’t just for school leavers—they’re a great way to develop professionally. I’ve worked really hard and now seems to be the right time.”
While Rachael embarked on her apprenticeship later in her career, Esh’s dedication to providing opportunities for new entrants to the sector is evidenced by 17-year-old twins Matthew and Oliver Scott, who recently completed their Level 2 Groundworker Intermediate Apprenticeship.
Matthew, who is now working on the £6.4 million Bishop Auckland Bus Station project, said: “We’ve both been given the chance to really muck in properly and learn on the job the things we’ve been taught in college. When you come into something which you don’t really know and everything is new to you – it’s a new environment – that can be quite daunting, but when you have your brother there with you, it puts you at ease.”
A culture of ‘growing your own’ is deeply rooted in Esh’s people strategy, with support and opportunities enabling colleagues to develop and rise through the ranks. 30-year-old Luke Davies has been with Esh for six years, and in that time the former Sports Science teacher has worked hard to study and secure four promotions – rising from a Trainee Engineer to Sub-Agent where he currently leads on a £2.5 million Section 278 works project on the A689 outside Hartlepool.
Luke is now on the brink of becoming a Chartered Civil Engineer as he is set to complete his Level 5 Higher Apprenticeship in Construction Engineering at Teesside University in the coming weeks. He said: “Esh gives everyone the chance to develop across the projects they are working on, whether they are new into the team or have several years of experience. I was thrown in at the deep end when I started, but it’s great because I was exposed to different aspects of civils from the outset.
“There’s a clear career pathway here, and you can see senior leadership who have worked their way up through the company. If they see potential in you, they’ll back you.”
Esh has a proud history of nurturing talent with many of our long-serving colleagues starting their journey as apprentices. We are dedicated to developing the next generation of professionals and are passionate about providing opportunities for growth.
“In recent years we have also sought to cast the net wider in our apprenticeship and training options, so it is brilliant to see staff chomping at the bit to get involved in new courses that are becoming available.”
