As National Apprenticeship Week approaches, independent housebuilder Dandara is highlighting the role its apprentices are playing in tackling the construction industry’s ongoing skills shortage, with early-career talent already making a meaningful contribution across the business.
The construction sector continues to face a significant workforce challenge, with the Construction Skills Network forecasting the need for more than 250,000 additional workers by 2028 to meet demand[1]. In response, Dandara has invested in a range of apprenticeship and trainee pathways spanning technical, procurement and management disciplines.
Across the business, apprentices are gaining hands-on experience while working towards recognised qualifications. This includes Trainee Group Procurement Assistant Anna Bergmanis in the Northern Home Counties, Management Trainee Technical Sophie Jones in Dandara’s Eastern region, Trainee Management Programme apprentice Max Lambert in South East and Ryan Archer in the Southern region.
Anna Bergmanis
Anna Bergmanis, 23, joined Dandara in July 2025 after studying marketing, project management and financial accounting at the University of Kent. Now working within group procurement, she supports supplier coordination and specification consistency across regions. “The apprenticeship has given me time to learn without feeling like I need to know everything straight away,” she says. “That support has really helped build my confidence.”
Sophie Jones
In the Eastern region, Sophie Jones, 29, is completing a technical project management apprenticeship, supporting the delivery of major developments including Birch Park in Braintree and Prior’s Edge in Takeley. “When you see people moving into homes you’ve helped deliver, you feel proud of what you’ve created,” she says. “Even on the tough days, I love what I do.”
Max Lambert
Meanwhile, Max Lambert, 20, joined Dandara’s Trainee Management Programme straight after his A Levels and is working towards a Level 6 Design and Construction Management qualification. “The mix of practical and academic learning has already accelerated my career,” he says. “The support has been second to none.”
Ryan Archer
Ryan Archer, 22, is based at Dandara’s Southern regional office in Southampton and studies at Southampton Solent University. He first joined the business in September 2022 to complete a Level 4 HNC in Quantity Surveying and progressed onto a Level 6 degree apprenticeship in September 2024.
“I initially joined Dandara through work experience while I was at college, and I really enjoyed it,” Ryan says. “I knew I didn’t want to go down the traditional university route, and the opportunities at Dandara felt endless. The apprenticeship programme is extensive, and being able to progress from a Level 4 to a degree apprenticeship made the decision easy.”
He adds: “I’m a numbers person, so during my rotations across different departments, quantity surveying really stood out. That’s the biggest benefit of being an apprentice, you get exposure to so many areas before specialising. Combined with the support from everyone at Dandara, you genuinely feel backed as you start your career in an industry with so many opportunities.”
Alison Murphy
Alison Murphy, Learning and Development Manager at Dandara, comments: “The skills gap is something we see and feel across the industry, and it’s not something that can be solved overnight. For us, it starts with creating the right environment for people to learn, ask questions and grow in confidence, rather than expecting them to arrive with all the answers.
“Apprenticeships give people the space to develop at a realistic pace while still being part of live projects and real teams. What’s been really encouraging is seeing how invested our apprentices become in the business and the pride they take in their work. They’re not just training for the future, they’re already adding value today, and that’s exactly what the industry needs if we’re serious about building a sustainable workforce.”
Dandara continues to expand its early careers offering through a mix of apprenticeship programmes, management trainee schemes, T-level placements and wider skills training initiatives across all regions of the business. By working closely with education providers and offering long-term development opportunities, the housebuilder aims to support people at different stages of their career while strengthening the skills pipeline needed to deliver high-quality homes across the UK.
[1] https://www.citb.co.uk/about-citb/construction-industry-research-reports/construction-skills-network-csn
