THREE former apprentices have celebrated their rise to the management ranks by helping deliver a £2m project.

Adam Readhead, Matthew Jowsey and Allan Burgin joined Hartlepool-based Gus Robinson Developments after leaving school.

They have now overseen Crown Halls, a development with the Thirteen Group to provide student accommodation for the Cleveland College of Art and Design (CCAD).

Mr Readhead, 27, the firm’s operations manager, started at 17 training as an estimator.

He said: “There is a clear path of progression and as soon as I began as a trainee there was an emphasis on improvement and bettering myself.

“When a tender opportunity comes in it’s my job to price up the work and give an accurate estimation of costs.

“It’s challenging but so satisfying once a job goes live and I can hand the project over to the rest of the team.”

Once he has secured a project, 29-year-old Matthew Jowsey, Gus Robinson Developments’ commercial manager manages costs and sub-contractors.

He began working at the firm when he was 16 as a trainee quantity surveyor, and the company funded his studies through Hartlepool College and Northumbria University.

He said: “My role has changed dramatically over the years, from coming in as a youngster and learning the ropes, to overseeing and holding responsibility for many larger projects.

“Crown Halls was a great achievement for all of us.

“Not only has it been a flagship project for the company, it’s really made a difference in Hartlepool and attracted students from outside the town.”

Crown Halls took about ten months to complete and was overseen by site manager Allan Burgin.

Mr Burgin, 31, joined the firm during the second year of his apprenticeship.

He said: “The company not only funded me through my education at New College Durham, but they have supported me throughout my career and encouraged me to take on difficult and challenging projects.

“As a site manager, I can now be overseeing around 20 schemes at any one time and I’m really looking forward to developing more into my job.”

Bosses at Gus Robinson Developments say about 90 per cent of apprentices stay with the firm, with many rising to senior positions.

Dan Robinson, chairman, added: “We have a duty to give back and can do this through the opportunities we provide for young people.

“Over a quarter of our current employees started at the company as apprentices and it’s brilliant to see such achievement with Crown Halls.”