Specialist Fit-out contractor Thomas Johnstone Ltd. has showcased its commitment to developing its people by joining The 5% Club; an industry-led initiative focused on driving momentum into the recruitment of apprentices, graduates and sponsored students.

The 5% Club, initiated by Leo Quinn, Group CEO of Balfour Beatty in 2013, is a movement of more than 700 employers providing ‘earn and learn’ opportunities to develop the skills and talents people need to become more employable and create meaningful careers.  Companies joining The 5% Club commit to raising the number of apprentices, sponsored students and graduates on formal programmes to 5% of their total workforce within five years.  Members are also asked to publicly report their progress in their Annual Report.  Existing members range from SMEs to FTSEs and cover diverse industries, from engineering to the legal sector.

People have always been Thomas Johnstone’s first core value, and part of this is the company’s commitment to prioritising the development and needs of individuals, which provide valuable experience and opportunities for long-term employment and development within the company.  Apprenticeships, Trainee positions and Graduate schemes are all key element of this development programme. These structured programmes offer a mix of practical elements with theoretical learning and support from colleagues and senior management.

Project Director and Thomas Johnstone’s Apprenticeship Co-ordinator for the West, Frank Foy, said of the programme, “All great teams require diversity: a good blend of youth and experience, and it’s no different in construction.  Thomas Johnstone take great pride and responsibility in providing opportunities and developing Modern Apprenticeships (MA) throughout both trades in other areas of the business and currently have 30 apprentices working throughout the business.”

Joint Managing Director, Rod Young, commented, “We are proud to have been named as a Gold Member of the 5% Club via their 2023/24 Employer Audit Scheme.  Our ongoing commitment and investment to staff training and development is key to our first core value: our People.  With 15% of Thomas Johnstone’s current workforce in Earn & Learn programmes, we believe we are making a direct impact on the sustainability of our industry.”

Gill Cronin, Director of Operations of The 5% Club said, “We’re delighted to welcome Thomas Johnstone Ltd into membership. The 5% Club provides a fantastic network of HR professionals, sharing and learning from each other.  All our members share an ethos of creating a skilled workforce through ‘earn and learn’ development programmes, helping people develop meaningful career paths.”

Thomas Johnstone Ltd. has a proud tradition of supporting the development of young talent. For over a decade, the company has actively engaged in apprenticeship programs, providing hands-on training to numerous apprentices who have gone on to have successful careers in the industry. In addition to this, Thomas Johnstone has consistently offered graduate programs that not only provide graduates with valuable experience but also opportunities for long-term employment within the company.  These initiatives reflect the company’s commitment to fostering the growth and potential of young individuals entering the workforce. The company will be taking applications for its next cohort of Apprentices in June 2024.