Bolton's Seddon Construction has recruited 16 new apprentices, marking a record female intake and combatting the industry's skills shortage.

The Northwest family-owned contractor has raised its apprenticeship employees to an all-time high of 60, reflecting their pledge to provide solutions to pressing skills gaps in the sector.

The new recruits, joining from an overwhelmingly competitive pool of 1,200 applicants, will learn essential trade skills like joinery, brickwork, and decorating.

Their first experience on site included a two-day community project in both Bolton and Wigan.

Trainee quantity surveyor, Olivia Hardy, said: "I have really enjoyed my time so far at Seddon, especially the two community days we took part in.

"It was incredibly rewarding and really brought us apprentices together as a team."

These community projects epitomise Seddon's focus on social value and positive community impact, which are core values introduced to the apprentices during their induction week.

On top of the 16 new recruits, an additional 12 apprentices have also been placed within Seddon's supply chain partners.

Owner of Seddon, Nicola Hodkinson, said: "As the industry grapples with a critical skills shortage, bringing in apprentices is more crucial than ever to bridge the gap.

"I’m especially delighted to see many female applicants this year—a promising sign that women are increasingly making their mark in this industry."

Beyond its own operation, Seddon has been proactive in tackling the industry-wide skills shortage, which requires an estimated 53,200 new workers each year until 2028 according to CIOB forecasts.

For future apprentices interested in joining Seddon's programme, they can find information at Seddon's website.