A construction site in Caerphilly is helping apprentices develop their carpentry careers

A construction site in Caerphilly is helping apprentices develop their carpentry careers. Linc Cymru is converting Winston Osborne House in Caerphilly, a former sheltered housing scheme into eight high-quality apartments for affordable rent using funding support from the Welsh Government’s Social Housing Grant Programme. 

The housing association and care provider is working in partnership with P&P Building and Roofing Contractors to undertake the work. As part of the community benefits with the project P&P have been able to continue to provide apprenticeship opportunities.   

They’ve had three apprentice carpenters on site, with one of them just completing his third year and successfully getting a full-time job with the company. Jack Taylor is now employed by P&P after working on the site in his last year. Noah Jones and Rhys Davies are just starting their second year of learning on the job with time in college each week.   

Graham Jones, assistant project manager at Linc Cymru, said: “We are building affordable homes across Cardiff and south-east Wales to help the housing crisis in Wales. Our sites are more than just housing, they are opportunities to offer work experience, apprenticeships, and much more.”    

Matthew Davies, site manager with P&P Builders, said: “They are doing so well. This site has been perfect for carpenters as it’s given them such a wide variety of experiences. There are the usual stud walls and doors, but we’ve also had to build timber framed dormers, including new roof trusses and floor joists, and adaptions for roof windows. All this work and experience will cover them for their next NVQ with the photos and evidence they’ve collected.”  

(Left to right) Noah, Jack and Rhys 

The work at Winston Osborne House will be completed by April 2024.