Trend "Gathering Pace"

Wednesday, 9 April 2025 13:26

By Martin Webber

The boss of a local construction firm says he sees growing interest in apprenticeships from young people.

Malcolm Clarke, who's the Chairman of the Paddock Wood based firm, Baxall Construction, was speaking at a recent business networking event in Tonbridge, the West Kent Business Expo.

On the uptick in interest in taking up apprenticeships, Mr Clarke told us: "It's a real encouragement".

Mr Clarke (pictured below) said many young people were realising that going to university means "racking up a load of debt" while many of the lectures have stayed online after covid. Plus he suggested young people realise now that "they can't really afford to party all the time."

Malcolm Clarke continued: "That old feeling of: go to university and grow up, and then go and find a really good job afterwards, that isn't quite the case any more".

He said: "We've got a number of apprentices who've joined us either directly from school - or after their A levels - or after university. They are then in an earning and learning process. They're not building up debt."

He concluded: "So far, they are loving it. And it seems to be gathering pace. More of them are going to their friends and saying don't do that, do this."

Listen to the full 3 minute interview with Malcolm Clarke here:

Mr Clarke was speaking at the recent West Kent Business Expo held at the River Centre in Tonbridge. The event is held every year and in 2025 there were 50 exhibitors and around 500 delegates.

Mr Clarke said the Baxall business was growing thanks to contracts with private sector clients as well as its work building schools and community centres.

The firm completed work in recent years at Paddock Wood Community Centre, Southborough Civic Centre, St. Gregory's Catholic School, Skinners' Kent Primary School and Schools at Somerhill (see below).

Mr Clarke emphasised the range of roles now offered by construction. He said: "I've got two data scientists that are working for us, looking at the data and AI to see how we can do things more efficiently."

He continued: "So even if you are not someone who wants to lay bricks or be a site manager or a quantity surveyor, there are all these other roles that the built environment offers that didn't exist even ten years ago."

Malcolm Clarke concluded: "So it's an exciting place to be and also - we will never be out of work."

Mr Clarke was speaking at the expo to West Kent Radio's reporter, David Brown, who also spoke to a range of other firms who were also recruiting. Listen here to the comments he recorded: