A LEADING civil engineering firm based in the region has been praised for its commitment to training local apprentices.

Jones Bros, based in Ruthin, takes on apprentices annually – some 25-30 craft and 10 higher apprentices.

The civil engineering firm employs about 500 staff and invited Plaid Cymru’s North Wales MS Llyr Gruffydd to meet the latest batch of apprentices being put through their paces.

The group, from across North Wales, were learning their skills at the old North Wales Hospital site at Denbigh.

Mr Gruffydd said: “Jones Bros is a relative rarity – a large firm with its roots and its headquarters here in Wales.

"That’s important because they have capacity to bid for bigger jobs but also keep the money turning within the Welsh economy – so much of our public procurement sees money being lost over the border to larger companies and we need to see far more imaginative use of our limited funds to support Welsh enterprises and workers.

READ MORE: Ruthin firm is a champion of bilingualism in the workplace

“Jones Bros is also unusual because it provides high-quality accredited training from its own in-house training centre.

"It was good to meet the new apprentices, who are just starting on a journey and will hopefully be able to stay in the region and earn good money in the future.

"We also discussed the frustrations facing companies because some procurement frameworks aren’t working as they should for local firms.

"Far too often, the contract cream in terms of management fees and profits as well as senior professional roles ends up leaving the region.

"Wales needs better paid jobs to ensure young people can live and work in the region.”

Bilingual apprenticeships play a key role in the success of the company.

It has recruited more than 100 apprentices in the past four years and the company hopes to have 30 new apprentices on board by September.

Welsh-speaking apprentices are able to complete their apprenticeships bilingually, with practical work in Welsh and written work in English, mainly because the awarding bodies are based in England.

Garmon Hafal, Jones Bros’ training manager, said: “As more than half of our apprentices come from North West Wales, they prefer to be taught through the medium of Welsh, which is their first language.

“Most of the verbal training is in Welsh and the paperwork is in English.

“We are lucky that five of our seven trainers and assessors are Welsh speakers and most of the company’s employees, from director level down, speak Welsh."