Up-and-coming Cornish construction talent gets support from industry leaders

CORNWALL’s construction workers of the future have been given a helping hand thanks to a donation of building materials to a local College.

Home-builders Bovis Homes and haulage specialists MJL delivered a special load of building materials including bricks, timber and plasterboard to Truro and Penwith College students, to be used in their studies.

The donation of materials highlights the close links the College has with the Cornish construction industry. One company, Corby Construction, which is working on a housing development adjacent to Truro College, has recently taken on its sixth apprentice from the College.

Manager at the Trelowen site Nathan Ellis said that work on the neighbouring site will continue until late next year. Bovis also currently has sites in Penryn, Falmouth, Bude, and Hayle.

“There’s a lot going on in Cornwall,” he says. “Bovis has a commitment to building quality homes, and supporting local communities and the next generation of the building industry, so working with Truro and Penwith College is perfect.

“We need more talented trade people,” he added. “We need apprentices, and so we have to get more talented young people interested in apprenticeships.”

Giles Corby of Corby Construction, a subcontractor delivering the new Trelowen homes who employs Truro and Penwith College apprentices, added: “There’s going to be plenty of work in Cornwall so these students are going to have plenty to do. There’s a shortage of trades - skilled workers who can build the homes needed in Cornwall.”

Giles says that after this current site he has 200 more homes to build in the Camborne area next year. “We have a really good relationship with the College and are hoping to take on new apprentices in the new year.” Corby currently have six Truro and Penwith College apprentices on the Trelowen site.

Also involved in the donation of materials was Matthew Lugg, director of MJL, who supplied the transport of the materials, Steve Alford, Contracts Manager, who organised the job, and Darren Pascoe, Area Build Manager at Bovis, who also helped make it all happen.