“Of all my friends, I have the best job – I’m in the best team, on the best project! I can’t wait to see how far I can go in this industry.” said by Ahmed Al Hjowj
These are the words of 19 year-old Ahmed Al Hjowj, a former engineering student at Luton’s further education institute Barnfield College, who is now an apprentice on the pioneering Luton DART fast transit construction programme.
Ahmed was keen to find out how to get into the construction and engineering sector. He attended a local apprenticeship and careers fair organised by LETS (Luton’s Employment, Training and Skills) and spoke with the Luton Construction Skills Training Hub team.
After learning about the DART project and its training offer, he booked onto a basic qualifications course in June 2019. He enjoyed the challenge, performed well, and then he said he was looking for an apprenticeship.
When an opportunity came up, main contractor on the Luton DART VolkerFitzpatrick-Kier (VFK) informed Ahmed and encouraged him to apply. Works manager Dave Campbell was looking for a team-oriented person with excellent IT skills and a ‘can-do’ attitude to join the site management team, supporting project-critical responsibilities such as management of the concrete-based activity.
Ahmed was successful at interview and joined the VFK team in August 2019. The Construction Skills Training Hub was established on the Luton DART site by Luton Council and its airport company in November 2018 with £1m funding provided by the Construction Industry Training Board.
As the UK’s most socially responsible airport owner, investment in jobs and training is one of our top priorities, and that’s why we asked VFK to lead on delivery of the hub.
It has successfully passed its target of providing training in a variety of construction skills to more than 720 people – 45 per cent of whom came from under-represented groups, and 15 per cent of recruits looking to switch careers.
Cllr Javeria Hussain, chair of Luton Council’s airport company Luton Rising, said: “Joining our Construction Skills Hub has been a life-changing experience for so many people, from people looking for their first jobs to others wanting to develop their careers, and it has been especially valuable for 32 apprentices starting their careers.
The hub is central to our vision of developing aspiration and ending poverty in Luton, and we are tremendously proud of its success. It is very rewarding to hear stories like Ahmed’s, working hard for a more successful future.”
The Luton Direct Air-Rail Transit (DART) is our major fast transit infrastructure project that will link Luton Airport Parkway Station and the airport terminal in well under four minutes. When it opens in 2022, the DART will help provide a seamless journey from central London to the airport in just half an hour by the fastest trains.
Ahmed did his site technician apprenticeship with Bedfordshire College. His tutor at Bedford College said: “Ahmed has performed very well in all his assessments. His attendance is excellent, he is committed to his studies and gets on very well with his peers.”
In the first six months from joining the DART team, Ahmed’s achievements included:
- Managing the concrete ordering system
- Organising and chairing the twice-weekly concrete meetings
- Managing the site vehicle management systems
- Building great relationships with suppliers and sub-contractors
Mr Campbell said: “In a very short time Ahmed has become a highly-valued and well-respected member of the site management team.”
