Captiva Homes has officially launched the Captiva Academy, welcoming its first apprentices onto site – with a helping hand from national builders’ merchant Jewson, who have sponsored each apprentice with their very own toolkit.
The launch took place at Sovereign Network Group’s Three Oaks development, where Captiva Homes is working in partnership to deliver 87 homes for social rent and 58 for shared ownership.
Apprentices were presented with their new tools in front of the Captiva team, partners, and supporters. The event symbolised both the beginning of their careers in construction and Captiva’s commitment to investing in the next generation of Island talent.
The Captiva Academy, created in partnership with the Isle of Wight College, Solent Careers, and local schools, has been designed to inspire young people to pursue careers in construction, provide structured apprenticeships and management training, and offer clear pathways into employment.
Traditionally, housebuilders like Captiva work with subcontractors and do not employ trades directly. This makes apprenticeships difficult to secure, as most tradespeople on the Island are self-employed and unable to take apprentices on. To break down that barrier, Captiva has directly employed 5 trade apprentices for the first time, giving them a unique opportunity to learn, earn, and grow within the industry.
As part of the Captiva Academy, every trade-related learner at the Isle of Wight College has recently been offered work experience on Captiva’s live developments. To date, 40 students have taken part, gaining valuable insight into the industry. From this group, several standout individuals were identified and have now joined as apprentices through the Academy – showing how the programme is already creating real career opportunities for young Islanders.
James Pink, Director at Captiva Homes, says:
“It was fantastic to welcome our first apprentices and to see them kitted out with tools thanks to Jewson’s generous support.
“The Captiva Academy is about opening doors for young Island people, giving them a future in construction, and helping to build the skilled workforce our Island needs. Starting their journey at Captiva was a proud moment for everyone involved.”
With apprentices now on site, a strong programme of school visits, college partnerships, and training opportunities in place, Captiva Homes is determined to lead the way in training, inspiring, and supporting the Island’s next generation of construction professionals.
