As part of our support to National Apprenticeship Week 2026, we are proud to share a Spotlight from Site involving Ryan, one of our Interior Systems Installer Apprentices:

Ryan is one of our Level 2 Interior Systems Installer (Drylining) apprentices, currently working on a residential project in Tunbridge Wells. He joined Gypcraft in 2025 after completing a Skills Bootcamp in Interior Systems delivered by British Gypsum and Construction Skills People in partnership with FIS.

The bootcamp allowed us to meet motivated candidates with a grounding in the trade. After an interview, site exposure, and a short work placement, positive feedback from our site team confirmed Ryan’s potential, and he began his apprenticeship in July 2025.

Programmes like this are invaluable in a competitive labour market, helping businesses connect with people seeking long-term careers while bridging the gap between training and employment.

Our training provider, MT Training, supported the process with clear communication, smooth enrolment, and flexible delivery. Their online platform tracks progress, while blended learning supports development on and off site.

Apprentices bring energy, enthusiasm, and pride to the team. Apprenticeships remain a vital investment in the future workforce.

Ryan says: “Becoming an apprentice with Gypcraft has had such a strong impact on my life, both work and personal. After working in hospitality for 10 years, it has been such a positive change to have more structure in my day to day. I have learnt so much more than I realised I would have needed to; I’m also getting in better shape from having a physical job which is a great bonus.

To be able to earn a wage while gaining knowledge and a qualification is fantastic, it’s given me an opportunity I never would have been able to take if not for being paid to work, and earning a qualification that will make me a skilled tradesman while doing so will open so many doors for me in the near future, this is such a fantastic opportunity to have. It gets me prepared for the future and is giving me every opportunity to excel in my new trade.

Interacting with other dryliners is a big positive to the job and getting knowledge from individuals in the same field as me is a great way to stay on top of work and improve skills.

Becoming an apprentice has been a great change for me, having a regulated schedule has helped me get a better sleeping schedule, become more active, and also experience a new environment in work. The positive effects this has had for both my mental and physical health are invaluable.

After 7 months on this course, it’s incredibly satisfying seeing my knowledge grow and turn into real work, I am now able to work for the most part unaided but always have people around me that I can talk to and ask about any inquiries I may have. I can now look at plans and picture how the flat will look once constructed, it’s very satisfying to build something from nothing.

As the months go by, I feel myself becoming more confident and quicker, whether it’s measuring/cutting the metal studs, or cutting and installing drywall, this apprenticeship is helping me grow and improve dramatically

This experience has exceeded my expectations, the support from everyone at Gypcraft has been amazing, both on site with my manager who always checks in and tries to work with me so I can cover all necessary aspects, to the people at head office, who are always keen to hear how I’m getting on and take a genuine interest in what I’m doing/learning.

Being able to work towards becoming a skilled tradesman is incredibly rewarding, perhaps more so in this apprenticeship than others, it’s incredible to be on site and see an empty floor turn into several flats that the public can live in and it’s a privilege to be a part of that.

To be there from start to finish is a reward within itself, I get to experience turning an empty concrete floor into someone’s future home.”