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Leo Quinn, Balfour Beatty Group Chief Executive, delivers on his Founder’s Pledge at The 5% Club

By Balfour Beatty Plant in Industry News

Delivering on his Founder’s Pledge, Leo Quinn, Balfour Beatty Group Chief Executive announces that ten successful Apprentices from across the company and its supply chain have now secured the coveted Founder’s Pledge Award, following a comprehensive application process. 

Leo Quinn launched the Founder’s Pledge to commemorate the 10th anniversary of The 5% Club, which he founded in 2013 to tackle the UK’s stubborn national skills shortage and the resulting poverty trap for the unskilled.

At a reception hosted by The 5% Club to celebrate its members’ work and close out the anniversary year, Leo personally gifted £10,000 to support the ten chosen apprentices and help address the troubling statistics that nearly half of Apprentices in the UK fail to complete their training due to a lack of wellbeing and financial support.

Each Apprentice will now embark on a one-year mentoring programme, where they will learn and gain experience directly from their own business leaders to support their continued growth and success whilst also ensuring the development of the industry’s future talent.

Rupert Forster, who joined Balfour Beatty in January 2023 and is currently undertaking a Level 3 Apprenticeship in Laboratory and Associated Technical Activities as a member of the Materials Department at Hinkley Point C, will be mentored by Leo. In addition:

  • Anthony Jordan, Groundworker Apprentice, will be mentored by Tim O’Sullivan, Managing Director of Danny Sullivan Group
  • Michael Kinnane, Service Engineer Apprentice, will be mentored by Andy Wright, Chief Executive Officer of Sunbelt
  • Jasdeep Singh, Accountancy and Taxation Professional Apprentice, will be mentored by Sat Nijjer, Chief Executive Officer of Fortel
  • Millie Hopkins, Business Administration Apprentice, will be mentored by Brusk Korkmaz, Chief Executive Officer of Hercules
  • Callum King, Mineral Products Technician Apprentice, will be mentored by Thomas Edgcumbe, Managing Director of Aggregate Industries
  • Chloe Jones, Construction Plant Operations Apprentice, will be mentored by Patrick Flannery, Managing Director of Flannery Plant Hire
  • Malcolm Masi-Manyusa, Commercial Apprentice, will be mentored by Bevan Browne, Managing Director of Tarmac
  • Harry Wooldridge, Plant Operator Apprentice, will be mentored by Merrill Lynch, Joint Managing Director of L Lynch
  • Billy Minguard, Rail Engineer Apprentice, will be mentored by Dan Evans, Chief Executive of Speedy Services

To further support and inspire the next generation of talent, Balfour Beatty has also committed to mentoring two additional Apprentices from its business – Lucy Cole, Business Administration Apprentice, and Bethany Newton, Commercial Apprentice - who have been commended for their notable achievements at the company to date.

They will be mentored by two Balfour Beatty Executive Committee members, Chief Technology Officer, Chris Johnson, and Human Resources Director, Paul Raby, who are stepping up to provide practical assistance and guidance.

Leo Quinn, Balfour Beatty Group Chief Executive said: “Ten years after founding The 5% Club, to me it is vital that as business leaders we not only invest in skills, but give our young people the support to help them become our talent and leadership for the future.

“The passion and dedication shown by the selected Apprentices in their applications truly stood out amongst the impressive pool of nominations we received. I now look forward to hearing about some of the barriers these individuals face. Through The 5% Club – with its more than 900 members – we have built a powerful vehicle for sharing best practice and ensuring we continually improve the quality and accessibility of UK Apprenticeships for all.”

Leo Quinn, Balfour Beatty Group Chief Executive, will be regularly updating on his mentoring journey and sharing any learnings and findings via his personal LinkedIn channel.