An ambitious year-long challenge to help apprentices at Morgan Sindall Infrastructure – Nuclear with their personal and professional growth while supporting local communities, has come to an end.
Seven Infrastructure Strategic Alliance Apprentice Challenge teams took part – identifying, planning and supporting projects that tie in with the company’s commitment to community engagement, sustainability and inclusion.
Ventures ranged from fundraising activities to support worthy causes; donating household essentials to vulnerable families using recycled backpacks; harnessing the power and generosity of supply chain partners to make improvements to vital facilities; to producing a docuseries aimed at inspiring future cohorts of apprentices.
Each team was supported by a mentor from senior leaders.
Each of the teams presented the social and financial impact of their chosen project, as well as detailing the professional and personal skills to a panel of judges headed by Eldon Garnett, managing director – Nuclear.
The winning team included Lucy Laidlow, HR apprentice; Adam Garner, civil engineer apprentice; Charlotte Robinson, quality apprentice; and Michael Graham, electro-mechanical engineer apprentice, under the mentorship of with Carl Cookson, project commercial director.
They partnered with subcontractors DSD Construction and LEL Nuclear to install a ramp at Johnson House, an elderly care home in Whitehaven, improving garden access for residents with limited mobility.
The contractors also donated materials and installed a concrete base and shed – delivering £1,500 in safety upgrades at no cost to the charity.
After initially undertaking a fundraising walk in a bid to cover the costs of these improvements, the team decided to use what they raised to host a celebratory party for residents, featuring a buffet, bingo with prizes and an Elvis impersonator.
Adam said: “I’m incredibly proud to have won the Apprentice Challenge following the work we have put in over the last year.
“While Johnson House might not affect me personally, seeing how our work benefits the residents is massively rewarding. Everyone at Johnson House has been incredibly welcoming and I’m glad the project was successful and will help for years to come.”
Eldon said: “It’s been genuinely inspiring to witness the passion and dedication our apprentices have poured into this challenge.
“They’ve absolutely smashed it out of the park – not just in terms of the effort they put in, but the real and lasting impact they have had in the local community.
“What’s even more exciting is that many of these initiatives will continue beyond the challenge, with several ventures showing real potential to be developed into scalable models for wider business growth.”
Following universally positive feedback from all involved, The ISA Apprentice Challenge will return in a matter of weeks for the incoming cohort of apprentices, helping them to build critical behavioural skills that will benefit their careers and the business, and strengthen ties with the community.
