Young apprentice builds career with Lovell

Lovell has opened the door to a career in construction for a 15-year-old local lad.

Ross Fenton, from Wath, has been taken on as an apprentice at the house builder’s Montgomery Fields development in Wath-upon-Dearne, Rotherham.

He will work with Lovell’s construction team at the site two days a week until June 2012; until he is 16 he will shadow site manager Trevor McCartney. The apprenticeship is designed to help Ross with his construction design and build classes at Wath Comprehensive School.

Lovell is working with the housing association, Guinness Northern Counties, to deliver the Montgomery Fields development. It is currently delivering the second phase of the project which includes 41 homes for rent and 15 open market homes.

Noel Adams, regional director at Lovell, says: “Ross is a highly motivated young man and we are delighted to welcome him to the team at Montgomery Fields.

“At only 15, he has shown a maturity in his career choice. The employment of local people is of paramount importance to us, as we invest in the communities in which we work. We will do whatever we can to help him achieve his ambitions and obtain his education.

“The type of homes we are building at Montgomery Fields, using highly sustainable practices and materials, will give Ross knowledge of a wide range of construction techniques.”

Lovell began working on the Montgomery Fields scheme in February 2010 and it is being developed in partnership with Guinness Northern Counties, Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council and the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA).

The development has achieved Level 3 and 5 on the Government’s Code for Sustainable Homes and Secured by Design accreditation. It was recently awarded the Building for Life Gold Standard, which promotes design excellence and celebrates best practice in the house building industry.