Guinness Celebrates Success of Leeds Apprentice Construction Site Manager 

To mark National Apprentice Week (7-13 Feb) housing association The Guinness Partnership, along with United Living New Homes, are celebrating their apprenticeship programme and the value apprentices bring to local communities. 

This year is the 15th annual National Apprenticeship Week, coordinated by the National Apprenticeship Service. This week-long celebration across England, is a time to recognise and applaud apprenticeship success stories across the country.  

Working at The Guinness Partnership’s Points Cross development in Leeds, Jacob Hemsworth, also from Leeds, has been an Apprentice Construction Site Manager with the main contractors, United Living New Homes, since September 2021. 

United Living New Homes will deliver 311 residential apartments for Guinness, which will be 100 per cent affordable (shared ownership and social rent), providing much needed affordable homes for people in Leeds. 

During his time at the residential development, Jacob has been learning about different management techniques as well as managing different sectors of the site, such as completing slab checks before concrete pours and writing daily reports and delivery schedules. 

Jacob’s workplace training is part of his Degree & Higher Apprenticeship course level four, five, and six and will be completed in 2025. 

Commenting on his career choice, Jacob said: “I really enjoy being an apprentice working at the Points Cross site and I am learning something new every day. Becoming an apprentice really has been the right choice for me. As well as doing course work, the hands-on site experience is invaluable. I would recommend an apprenticeship to anyone who wants to start a career in the construction industry.” 

Greig Lees, Head of Development Delivery at the Guinness Partnership said: “Apprenticeships are a vital way of promoting the skills we need now and in the future across the sector. We  have been really impressed by Jacob’s attitude to his role and the progress he is making with his apprenticeship. He is a role model for anyone who would like to join the construction industry.” 

Colin Kearney, Community Development Manager at United Living New Homes said: “As a member of the 5% Club, United Living is committed to building a pipeline of future talent as well as supporting our existing staff develop their skills. 

“The construction industry has a pivotal role to play in the delivery of the critical infrastructure projects the Government has planned to meet the country’s increasing needs for energy, transport and housing.

“As such, we all need to encourage and support more young people like Jacob so that we can create the communities of tomorrow”. 

Guinness’s Points Cross scheme forms part of a major regeneration programme of the South Bank area of Leeds. This regeneration project will provide over 8,000 new homes once complete.