Ceredigion’s MP Mark Williams visited Cardigan Castle this week to meet the 'shared apprentices' working on the site, and hear more about this apprentice scheme, run by Cyfle.

Cyfle Building Skills has been involved with the Cardigan Castle/Castell Aberteifi Project and Andrew Scott Construction for over a year and during that time, have had up to five ‘Shared Apprentices’ on-site at any one time, gaining a fantastic range experience in every facet of its construction. The masonry and carpentry apprentices have been involved in helping reconstruct the ancient walls and roofs using time honoured heritage techniques, to the plumbing apprentices using 21st century technologies.

Cyfle Building Skills recruits its 'shared apprentices' from local colleges such as Coleg Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire College. The Shared Apprenticeship scheme aims to provide a flexible route for apprentices, who have undertaken various challenging tasks using skills largely forgotten by today’s tradespeople. Carpentry apprentices have learnt and applied age old techniques, to restore wood Whigs is centuries old.

The Shared Apprenticeship Scheme offers all young people the range of opportunity of working with different types of construction companies within South West Wales Region, and includes some time every week in the college learning their about their industry. Part funded by the Welsh Government and CITB, apprentices are also given a unique experience of working on international building projects including; a grain store and mill in Uganda, followed by a Maternity Unit starting in July 2015.

Mark Williams MP commented:

‘I was hugely impressed to see the work of Cyfle’s Shared Apprentices scheme, and in particular meet several of the apprentices who were developing their skills on such a prestigious project. Their craftsmanship was exemplary. Cyfle have an excellent record of getting apprentices into work – indeed the best record in the United Kingdom. I look forward to sharing their success with colleagues across the country.’

Paul Falzon, project coordinator for Pembrokeshire and Ceredigion commented:

‘The future is positive for these apprentices, all are a good examples of what can be achieved. The scheme also has at any one time, three women apprentices, which are great role models for young women looking to enter the industry.'