News: Bramall manager goes back to the floor

A manager from Rotherham housing specialist Bramall Construction went back to the floor to mark National Apprenticeship Week earlier this month.

Pete Varley, who started his career as a joiner at the age of 15, spent the day on site in Kettlethorpe, Wakefield where he worked alongside Bramall's trainee joiner Ben Hawkes.

He went back to his original trade skill to carry out refurbishment work on a semi-detached property, owned and managed by Wakefield and District Housing.

Pete, a construction manager at Bramall said: "I was keen to take part in our back to the floor scheme and work alongside one of our new apprentices. I think it's important to keep in touch with what's happening on site and I also wanted to compare my own experiences with those of Ben's.

"Things might have changed since 1965 but I'm glad Bramall are still giving people the opportunity to gain a career in construction."

Pete began his career as an apprentice joiner in 1965 at JW Anson and Sons, in Sheffield. He went on to work at Gleesons as a fully qualified joiner and progressed to the role of site manager.

He started working for Bramall in 1982, relocating to work in London and the Home Counties with Bramall Construction Southern. He had a break from the company for six years to work for himself, returning to Bramall in 1995 where he has worked as a projects manager, contracts manager and is now a construction manager.

Manvers-based Bramall, part of the Keepmoat Group, currently has 45 apprentices working across its sites in Yorkshire and the East Midlands and is in the process of recruiting more.

Bramall Construction website
Shaun Flannery Photography Ltd website

Images: Bramall /
Shaun Flannery Photography Ltd