Youngsters given apprenticeships at Islington housing development

Five young people have been handed the chance to start a career in construction after being given an apprenticeship as part of Highbury and Islington’s Mulberry Mews development.

The five additions to the Mulberry site team will include a carpenter, dry liner, electrician, plumber and painter and decorator.

They will work alongside industry professionals and help to build 72 homes due to be completed early next year.

Deividas Butvilauska, 20, from Islington, has chosen the career path as an alternative to university despite being an A* student throughout school and college.

He said: “Since starting my apprenticeship, the scheme has lived up to my expectations.

“Mulberry Mews is a great project and I am pleased that I have the opportunity to watch the local development progress from initial groundwork.”

The scheme is being offered by Ardmore’s – a contractor of Taylor Wimpey Central London – with two apprentice carpenters already on-site.

Gerry Quinn, Mulberry Mews’ Project Manager, said: “This apprenticeship scheme will really allow ambitious and hardworking young people to obtain first hand work experience and training, something which is becoming a rare opportunity in central London.”