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Four graduates have been taken on by building products giant Forterra, as the firm continues to expand and extend its diverse offering to architects, developers and builders’ merchants.

James Clarke, Dominic Davies, Dexter Gondongwe and Elliot Spencer have all started work with the national firm, which makes a diverse range of bricks, blocks, paving, concrete precasts and other construction essentials at its many specialist sites across the country. The four graduates will spend their first year learning about the many different aspects of the company while researching specific projects.

James and Elliot are both based in the Midlands and have moved to Measham, near one of Forterra’s major brickworks.

James, a 21-year-old Engineering Graduate from Sheffield University, is based with the firm’s concrete precast specialists, Bison Precast. He said: “I specialised in aerospace engineering for my degree, but I wanted to change to something a bit more down-to-earth.

“There will always be a demand for bricks, concrete and other construction materials, and as Forterra is such a big name in the industry, and a fast-growing company, this course seemed like a great opportunity.”

Elliot, a 24-year-old Sports Science Graduate from The Wirral, has returned to the UK after working as a building site manager and playing semi-professional rugby in Australia for the past two years.

He said: “I’ve always had an interest in the construction trade as my dad is a property developer, and I’ve worked onsite before, learning the basics of carpentry, concreting and steel fixing, so Forterra and their many products were already familiar names to me.”

Dominic, 22, is a Commercial Graduate for Forterra from Uttoxeter who recently graduated from the University of Derby with a degree in Business Studies.

Dominic said: “After researching Forterra I saw how much they invest in their graduates, and how solid their product portfolio is. Not only that, but after becoming a PLC comparatively recently the company is set to grow further, so now is a great time to join them and be a part of their success!”

Dexter, 24, a Drama Graduate from Folkestone in Kent, is also a Commercial Graduate, and is looking forward to building on his experience as an intern for a London-based building company.

He said: “I’ve always had an interest in the building trade, as some of my family are in architecture, so when I saw Forterra was looking for graduates I jumped at the chance, as no other manufacturer in the UK is offering what they are to builders and architects. I’ve visited several of the firm’s many sites since starting and have been warmly welcomed at each of them.”

Stephen Harrison, Chief Executive of Forterra, said: “We’re constantly on the look-out for new talent in the construction industry, and our graduate scheme is a successful, proven method of attracting skilled workers to our company. I’d like to personally welcome Dexter, Dominic, Elliot and James to Forterra and wish them all the best.”

For more information about careers and opportunities with Forterra, please visit https://www.forterra.co.uk/careers. You can also follow the company on Facebook and Twitter via @ForterraUK and on LinkedIn.