Building a better future through apprenticeships with Oxford Brookes University

Following National Apprenticeship Week last month, we are putting a spotlight on our innovative partnership with Oxford Brookes University and highlighting how industry and academia can work together to create meaningful pathways into construction.

The construction industry faces well-documented skills shortages, and apprenticeships are crucial to addressing this challenge. They offer a proven route into the sector, combining practical experience with academic learning to develop well-rounded professionals who understand both the theory and reality of working in our industry. Through Morgan Sindall Construction’s partnership with Oxford Brookes University, we've created a distinctive placement programme that goes beyond traditional apprenticeship models, and we’re just at the start of our ten-year plan for the collaboration.

The partnership at a glance:

• Five former Oxford Brookes placement students now working full-time across various units within our business
• Reaching a target of 100 new apprentices and 200 Degree apprentices (a mixture of both full-time working and academic learning) supported over the next decade
• Double the annual intake of students into joint pathways over the next 3-5 years
• Oxford Brookes Unscripted Podcast launched to discuss career progression and construction projects with students every month
• Ecology garden created at Cherwell School in Oxfordshire as part of our social value commitments
• Placements offered across all departments, allowing students to find their ideal career path
• Developing new specialisms together, such as Modern Methods of Construction (MMC), sustainable construction materials and low-carbon design, net-zero construction leadership programmes, digital twins and AI-enabled project delivery

At the heart of this partnership is flexibility and choice. Rather than slotting students into predetermined roles, we offer placements across different departments throughout the business. This allows students to experience various aspects of construction and discover where their talents and interests truly lie. It's an approach that recognises each student's individual career aspirations, whilst giving them a realistic understanding of what working in construction actually involves.

We've developed innovative approaches that set this partnership apart from standard models. By rotating students through different departments, we enable them to make informed decisions about which area of the business best aligns with their career goals. This exploratory approach helps students understand the breadth of opportunities available, from site management to design coordination, estimating to sustainability.

Beyond the placement programme itself, we work closely with the university to provide comprehensive STEAM outreach, career talks, site visits, and work experience opportunities. This multi-layered engagement creates multiple touchpoints with students throughout their apprenticeship journey, ensuring they develop a well-rounded understanding of what we do before stepping into full-time roles.

A voice from experience

Ethan, a Degree Apprentice Quantity Surveyor currently working on a primary school project in Oxford, embodies the success of this partnership. In his first year of a six-year degree programme, with achieving chartered status as his ultimate goal, he's enthusiastic about the journey ahead:

Career development wise, I've just finished my first year, I have five years to go on my course until I have my degree, and I am hopefully chartered then as well. I am really enjoying the process.

The benefits from me in terms of being on site is witnessing construction with my own eyes instead of in textbooks and firing away as many questions as possible to professionals around me, both on site and off site."

His experience highlights one of the key advantages of our partnership with Oxford Brookes, which is the ability to bridge theory and practice. Rather than learning exclusively from textbooks, students gain hands-on experience and direct access to industry professionals who can answer their questions and guide their development.

For those considering a similar path, Ethan's advice is straightforward:

My advice to any aspiring apprentices is short and sweet and it is to take every opportunity as it comes and don't look back."

Speaking on the partnership to date, Mark Tugwell, Deputy Estates Director at Oxford Brookes University, added:

Partnerships like this are vital for developing the skills our industry needs. By working closely with Morgan Sindall Construction, we’re giving students valuable real-world experience while supporting the future of sustainable construction in Oxfordshire.”

A vision for the future

Our ambitions extend far beyond individual placements. Together with Oxford Brookes University, we're working towards transforming the campus into a fully integrated "Living Lab" – where university buildings continually act as real-time demonstrators for sustainable construction, supported by our projects. This innovative approach provides students with the unique opportunity to witness cutting-edge construction practices in action, turning the entire university environment into a living, breathing learning resource.

Strategic targets for the next decade

Alongside the 100 new apprentices and 200-degree apprentices we aim to support in the next 10 years, we are also aiming for:

• A 50% increase in Oxfordshire-based construction employment through joint talent pipelines
• Net-Zero construction training for 1,000 learners across all pathways
• Five major research projects completed, with at least two commercialised solutions
• Annual joint innovation showcase to position both partners as sector leaders

These goals are based on our commitment to regional transformation that goes beyond individual career development. Working closely with the University, we aim to double the local construction workforce, strengthen the SME ecosystem, and enhance Oxfordshire's STEM identity, positioning the area as a hub for construction innovation and sustainable building practices.