Ipswich MP Jack Abbott has visited one of the town’s longest-running chartered surveyors to speak about the vital role apprenticeships play in the construction sector’s regional workforce.
Castons, which celebrates its 130th anniversary this year, hosted the MP as he toured its offices on Friday, November 14, meeting with some of the people who had come through the firm’s graduate apprenticeship scheme.
The company has seen steady growth in the last five years, doubling its team in that time to 65 members of staff, with many starting as trainees.
Tim Tompkins, Director of Cost Management at Castons, said: “The construction sector is rightly seen as a key driver of the UK’s economic future, from increasing the country’s housing stock to building key infrastructure.
“This is particularly true in this region where we have a number of large-scale infrastructure projects now underway.
“A skilled workforce will be crucial to deliver the ambitious plans the Government has, and graduate apprenticeship schemes like ours will be a vital part of that.
“I hope Jack enjoyed his tour of our offices and meeting our apprentices, some of whom were the first to be trained through the scheme and have stayed with us ever since.”
Talent nurtured through apprenticeship schemes like Castons’ will support the large infrastructure projects ongoing in the region, such as Sizewell C power station, as well as the government’s ambitious housebuilding targets.
Last year, Castons became part of Artelia Group, one of Europe’s largest consultancy firms, which has seen it take on higher profile projects, such as the upcoming new West Suffolk Hospital project.
In September, the company became patrons of Suffolk’s Chamber of Commerce, alongside supporting the work of Women in Construction Anglia.
Myles Foster, 20, graduated from Castons’ apprenticeship scheme in May last year, having joined the firm in August 2021.
He said: “After sixth form, I knew I wanted to go to university but was eager to work at the same time.
“Apprenticeships are brilliant – you learn so much about the business, putting into practice what you have learnt.”
Following his visit, Mr Abbott said: “It was a pleasure to meet the team at Castons and to hear their views on how to increase the construction sector workforce across the region.
“It was particularly good to meet the company’s apprentices and hear about how they entered their careers in construction. Castons’ commitment to apprenticeships demonstrates the crucial role apprentices play in meeting the country’s need for skilled workers now and for the future.
“There is a wealth of talent in Ipswich, Suffolk, and East Anglia, and harnessing that potential will be an important part of driving our local economy forward.”