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Apprenticeship programme recruiting technically-minded local graduates

CambridgeHOK is delighted to announce the launch of new apprenticeship programme aimed at local graduates.

Counting the likes of Associated British Foods, APS Salads, Dyson Farming, and The Eden Project as our clients, and partnering with global leading businesses such as Philips and Savills, our business has built two huge, highly-sophisticated UK strawberry growing developments over the past 18 months, building a six hectare strawberry growing facility for Dyson Farming in Lincolnshire and a similar £7m facility for Berry Farming in West Sussex.

We are also leading the way in the UK for the development of Vertical Farms, indoor facilities which offer consistent growing conditions all-year round for leafy crops such as basil, lettuce, rocket and other salad types, having built 10 in total over the past decade, from small scale to large commercial operations, including the largest in Europe.

Earlier this year one of our projects made national headlines, as we built a new multi-million pound glasshouse in the Scottish borders hills to house Scotland’s first legal medical cannabis farm. The facility, which was built in four months, has paved the way for owners Hilltop Leaf Ltd to develop the perfect environment inside to grow and supply cannabis medicines to the UK market.

‘Growing Careers’ apprenticeship scheme offers ‘junior estimators’ roles

Given our growth and success we are able to attract employees for senior roles from across the country, but shareholder and joint managing director Patrick Harte says a major focus is now being placed on recruiting ambitious young people locally, and says that is why the new ‘Growing Careers’ apprenticeship scheme has been launched.

He said: "We are really keen to bring in young people who are enthusiastic and have great ideas to develop their careers.

“We are investing in this apprenticeship scheme so that we can bring people in early on in their career and focus on really forging a development path for them. Ultimately we want the next board of directors to come from within the business and we are really passionate about helping our own people to grow and develop.

“We feel we are a great business to work for. We work in interesting and challenging projects and we really pride ourselves on being fast and reactive to our customers, with great ideas.”

The first roles, for which candidates are now being sought, include junior estimators to join the estimating team, positions Mr Harte says are ideal for graduates in science, engineering, maths and built environment.

“Our estimating team is at the heart of our business, and the purpose of the role is to ensure accurate costing and planning for our projects,” said Mr Harte.

“We are delighted to offer full training with a nationally recognised higher-level apprenticeship for the right people and these newly created roles will provide quality support to our lead estimator, so we are looking for candidates with attention to detail, who are technically minded and determined.

“The role is predominantly based at our offices, offering the chance to learn from our vastly experienced team whilst communicating daily with suppliers and customers.”

To learn more about the role visit our careers page.

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