Next Steps candidates revealed!

THE six candidates who will battle it out to win a full-time paid construction apprenticeship with a Carmarthenshire building firm will be unveiled today (Monday July 11).

The lucky ones chosen to take part in the Next Steps 2011 competition will have their first chance to show their skills at a construction event being held at Trimsaran’s Ffos Las racecourse.

They are all in the running to win the two-year apprenticeship being offered by Lloyd and Gravell Ltd, supported by Carmarthenshire County Council, Coleg Sir Gar and Carmarthenshire Construction and Training Association Ltd (CCTAL).

The lucky six are:-

• Robert Goodman, aged 16, from Cynnwyl Elfed, Carmarthen
• Jamie Owens, aged 20, from Trimsaran
• Nathan Jenkins, aged 18, from Llanelli
• Darren Thomas, aged 16, from Trimsaran
• Gareth John, aged 24, from Caebryn, Ammanford
• Eric Meighan, aged 31, from Ammanford

They were chosen from 10 selected to take part in a two-week college course which gave them the knowledge and skills necessary to allow them to work on a building site.

The chosen six will now be put to work and train with skilled tradesmen working on council houses as part of the Carmarthenshire Homes Standard where they will learn basic skills in trades including bricklaying, carpentry and plastering.

They will also take part in challenges to test their ability to learn new skills, with a series of rewards and forfeits as an incentive.

A winner will be announced at a prestigious ceremony at Parc Y Scarlets in August, and they will start their first day ‘on the job’ just days later.

Kevin Gravell, director of Lloyd and Gravell, said: “This is literally a life-changing opportunity for these candidates. They have already impressed us with their applications, interviews, and how they have conducted themselves in college over the last two weeks.

“Now we are looking forward to see how they will work as individuals, and as part of a team over the next six weeks – this is where the hard work really starts.”

This is the second time the Next Steps competition has been run in Carmarthenshire. It was open to anyone aged over 16 – men and women – who lived in the county

Last year, it was one by 26-year-old Iwan Thomas, of Brynamman, who had had no previous experience of the construction industry.

He has now worked for Lloyd and Gravell for almost a year, and is thoroughly enjoying the experience.

“Winning Next Steps has changed my life,” he said. “I’m now on my way to becoming a qualified carpenter and am building a secure future for my family.”

For further information, to learn more about the candidates and to keep up to date with the latest news, videos and blogs, visit www.nextstepscarmarthenshire.co.uk. You can also follow them on Twitter @NextSteps2011, and Facebook as ‘Next Steps Carmarthenshire’.