Post-war apprentices

The Attlee government introduced the ‘Rimmer’, or Apprentice Master Scheme, in the mid-1940s which continued until the mid-1950s. It was designed to provide training in certain locations in the UK where there were few opportunities for apprenticeships.

Boys were employed at 16 building houses for the local authority (productive training). The apprentice master was a local builder who also managed the site. On occasions as many as 200 boys were employed to form a pool of prospective apprentices from which building employers could draw.

The boys would continue their training with their new employers until the apprenticeship period (five years) was completed. Post-war restoration of bomb-damaged buildings and the rebuilding of destroyed city centres provided much of the training experience.

The pride of craftsmanship and competition among the boys was intense and our site training was supplemented by day release and evening attendance at the local technical college. An advantage of this foundation period was that in later years we as craftsmen knew one another.

Today’s youngsters should have the opportunity that we enjoyed. It would be good for them, good for the industry and good for society. I might add that the houses were built to the highest standard and after 60 years they still look good.