Nine new recruits have joined Jones Bros as part of an improved higher apprenticeship scheme.

The civil engineering firm is running a full degree apprenticeship, which includes a BEng (Hons) in civil engineering or a BSc (Hons) in quantity surveying, for the first time.

The new recruits started on October 1 and will now spend three weeks gaining work experience before beginning their studies at Coleg Cambria, in partnership with Wrexham University.

Seven of the apprentices will be on the civil engineering programme, attending a 10-week block of college-based learning each year.

The other two apprentices will be quantity surveyors, spending one day per week in the classroom.

The remainder of their time will be spent gaining hands-on experience on various projects across the UK.

Gary Salisbury, now an estimator at Jones Bros, was one of the first seven to graduate from this innovative collaboration.

The 26-year-old worked on the world's largest offshore wind farm, Dogger Bank, and the A49 link road in Wigan as part of his on-site experience.

He said: "It’s an ideal programme because of the balance between education and heading to various projects across the country."

Mr Salisbury, who is currently pursuing his degree at Liverpool John Moores University, strongly supports the addition of the degree qualification to the programme.

He said: "The fact that the scheme now offers a degree at the end is fantastic.

"I am currently balancing work and civil engineering studies, so the new-look programme will really help those signing up."

Senior quantity surveyor, Elen James-Owen, is equally enthusiastic about the updated programme.

Jones Bros estimator Gary Salisbury, at Coleg Cambria (Image: Supplied) She said: "I think it is a great idea because not everybody wants to go to university full-time to continue their personal development.

"For some, staying at home to learn whilst you work is the better balance, and this course allows that to happen."

Tony Murphy, head of business management systems and support at Jones Bros, said: "It is a real feather in the company’s cap that we can offer this degree apprentice opportunity.

"We are steadfast in our commitment to young people and have continuously worked to strengthen the opportunities available."

Established in the 1950s, Jones Bros owns one of the largest plant fleets in the UK and employs around 500 people.

The company is currently working on contracts in various sectors including highways, flood and marine defence, waste management, and renewable energy around the UK.

It has recruited hundreds of apprentices over the years, with many of its senior managers starting out as apprentices or in a trainee role.

For more information, visit their website.