Collab Group selected to deliver UK apprenticeship provision for Kier

The Collab Group of Colleges announces it has been selected by leading property, residential, construction and services group, Kier, to help facilitate its apprenticeship provision across the UK through an innovative managed service model which will harness the power of 36 of the largest colleges in the UK.

This is the first contract of its kind between the construction and Further Education sectors and will see Collab Group colleges delivering a range of construction, highways, engineering, project management and professional apprenticeships for Kier. In addition, Collab Group will support Kier in other areas including widening its talent pool and supporting Kier Group ambitions to increase diversity in its workforce.

Ian Pretty – Collab Group’s CEO said: ‘this is an exciting time for the FE sector and for the Collab Group. We are excited to work with Kier Group to help develop their future talent. The recent introduction of the apprenticeship levy presents a great opportunity for the industry to continue to invest in the creation and development of a sustainable and highly skilled workforce. Collab Group colleges are at the forefront of providing highly specialised training to equip the future workforce with the skills to drive economic productivity and growth.  Our colleges are deeply imbedded in their local communities, and our national delivery network across the UK makes us uniquely placed to offer customised and flexible provision to a range of clients within the construction industry and beyond. We greatly look forward to working with Kier to invest in their talent and harness the collective expertise of our network of forward thinking and dynamic colleges.”

Katie Nightingale – Kier Group Early Careers Manager said: “We’re looking forward to this new partnership with Collab Group as we continue to develop our training programmes for apprentices and those looking to join the industry.

“We’ll be able to work with Collab Group to have access to a number of training providers, enabling us to continue to deliver a consistent, high quality apprenticeship offering across the UK.”

About Collab Group: A membership organisation representing 36 of the largest colleges in the UK; this includes members in the devolved nations of Northern Ireland Scotland and Wales

About Kier Group plc: A leading property, residential, construction and services group which operate across a range of sectors including defense, education, housing, industrials, power, transport and utilities.