Hill takes on a record 28 undergraduate trainees

Hill has taken on 28 undergraduate trainees to its management trainee programme this month, the largest such influx in the housebuilder’s history.

Back in July the firm, which ranked number 19 in Building’s 2017 list of Top 20 housebuilders by turnover, committed itself to having at least 5% of its workforce made up of apprentices, sponsored students and graduates by 2022. Currently, 82 (17%) of its 475 staff are trainees.

Each of the new recruits will work on sites in the London and the South East, and spend one day a week at university, where they will complete a fully-funded BSc (Hons) degree.

Simon Hawkins, Hill’s training manager, said the company’s pledge as a member of ‘The 5% Club’ “underscores the premium we place on investing in the next generation of construction industry workers.

“This sector needs to attract new talent and address our looming skills shortage. Currently 17% of our total workforce is in training, with the majority falling within the 18-24 age bracket.”