Doocey Apprenticeship & Careers Open Day 2023
Doocey Group held their 2nd Apprenticeship & Careers Open day on Saturday 22nd April 2023. It was a sold-out event with over 475 people registering for tickets.
The Open Day is organised to help explain to School & College leavers exactly what Infrastructure is, what Doocey Group physically does and to help explain the Utilities Industry and the fantastic job opportunities our sector of Civil Engineering has to offer.
We transformed our Lockerbie House Headquarters car park into our very own working site, where groups of 20 people were guided around the site by a Doocey guide explaining what each section of the business related to and the tasks undertaken, and equipment used. Visitors were able to speak to the operatives and our existing Multi Utility Apprentices were demonstrating their capabilities working in the trenches and running interactive activities.
Outdoor Activities & Demonstrations included;
• Vacuum Excavator
• Directional Drilling
• Water Hydrant Trench
• Multi Utilities Excavation Trench
• Electrofusion
• Tracing Electrical Cables
• Pipe fitting
• Grab Lorry – cab tipped and diagnostics.
• Active Traffic Management – temporary traffic lights & IPV Vehicle
The feedback received from the surveys recorded categorically that those who attended ‘definitely had a better understanding of the Utility Infrastructure Industry’ from what they saw and heard, which is hugely important to us.
Doocey Group is passionate about recruiting local people and our apprentices are available to school leavers, college leavers and graduates as well as local unemployed people and those looking for a change of career. There is no age limit on any of our apprenticeships Working in our industry is literally a job for life, it is recession and pandemic proof, through out everything we must keep the gas, water and electric supplied to homes, hospitals, warehouses and offices during these times.
On the day we were supported in registering 158 people for an apprenticeship opportunity by Sandwell Council, Sandwell College, Sandwell DWP (Department of Work & Pensions) and Sandwell Connexions. Doocey Group has been based in Tipton for 41 years and it is important that we engage in local partnerships to ensure those in our local community who are interested in such opportunities are engaged.
On the day we recruited for a variety of apprenticeship placements;
• Multi Utility Operative Apprentices (Level 2 Highways Maintenance)
• HGV Mechanic (level)
• Level 3 Business Administration Apprentices
• Apprentice Degrees in Quantity Surveying/Construction Management/Environmental Studies
The journey of what Doocey Group does went from outdoors to indoors whereby in the main head office various departments explained their part in supporting the external activities and business as a whole. Male and Female Quantity Surveyors were on hand to demonstrate the vital role they play supported closely by the procurement team. Finance & HR were on hand with fun interactive online games and a chance to win £150 JD sports voucher. Health & Safety is at the forefront of everything we do and the SHEQ team were on hand to demonstrate how they enforce this across the group.
Our 15 Multi Utility Operative apprentices absolutely shone on the day and blew people away with the knowledge they have gained and skills they could demonstrate in the 7 months they have been with us.
Our VIP on the day was the Mayor of Sandwell who spent 2 hours at our event, he interacted with every onsite activity, apprentice and many staff and visitors on the day. He said his role as Mayor is to highlight to be an ambassador within the community to promote things that are being done well in Sandwell and he said ‘it is clear what you are doing is a very good thing for Sandwell’.
The Open Day is all about the future and talent required as Doocey Group continues to expand. If you missed this year’s Open day or you want to get ahead for next year’s event or would like anymore information on apprenticeship opportunities or graduate programmes, please email futures@dooceygroup.co.uk
