Meet Kate Taylor: The woman helping train Northstowe’s next generation of construction workers

National House Building Council (NHBC) training hub manager Kate Taylor shares how the new facility at Northstowe is opening up opportunities for local people, ahead of its open day on 4th November.

Since welcoming its first intake in October, Northstowe’s new training hub on Rampton Road is already helping apprentices learn the construction skills urgently needed to help build the homes of the future.

The Hub is owned and run by the National House Building Council (NHBC), the UK’s leading provider of new home warranties and insurance. It is set to train up to 200 apprentices a year, offering routes into construction for school leavers and people looking for a career change.

For hub manager Kate Taylor, it’s also an opportunity to become part of the local community, with plans being explored for school work experience.

Anyone interested in an apprenticeship is invited to explore Northstowe’s NHBC Training Hub at its official open day on Wednesday 4th November. Visitors can meet the trainers and current apprentices, see hands-on training in action and get a feel for everyday life at the hub. Ahead of the hub’s official open day, we caught up with Kate to find out what learners can expect and how Northstowe residents can get involved.

Introduce yourself, tell us about your role and what the NHBC’s purpose is.

“Hi, my name’s Kate Taylor and I’m the training hub manager here at the NHBC Training Hub in Northstowe. NHBC’s purpose is to raise standards in homebuilding by championing high-quality homes and protecting homeowners.”

For those who haven’t heard about it, what is the NHBC Training Hub at Northstowe and what will happen there?

“The NHBC Training Hub at Northstowe is part of a planned UK-wide network of 12 facilities, backed by a £100 million investment from NHBC. Northstowe is set to train up to 200 apprentices per year. Initially, the multi-skill training hub will focus on delivering apprenticeships in essential trades, including bricklaying, groundworks, carpentry and timber framing.”

Where is the training hub located, and what made Northstowe so special? 

“It’s based on Rampton Road, via the Homes England office entrance, on the former RAF Oakington barracks site, and the hub has been positioned to support demand across the East of England.

“When we were looking for a location, we considered three options around Cambridge. We felt Northstowe provided the best opportunity, including the chance to work with Homes England and Keepmoat. We’ve previously worked with Keepmoat on a similar but smaller hub project in Newcastle.

“The NHBC Training Hub is providing immersive, hands-on learning in realistic site conditions from day one. The hub itself is two-thirds the size of a football pitch, exposed to all the elements, and apprentices work on large concrete slabs, build full-scale structures and follow real site hours and safety standards. This practical approach builds confidence and helps apprentices stay in the industry.”

What can people expect to see and experience when they visit the Northstowe Training Hub for the open day on 4th November?

“We’d love everyone to join us for the open day. Visitors will be able to tour the hub, meet the trainers and see the apprentices in action. It’s a chance to experience a typical day in the life of an apprentice at the training hub.

“People can see the high-quality, hands-on training we deliver across our apprenticeship programmes and get a real feel for the hub. We’re also hoping to have plenty of suppliers here.”

What apprenticeships and training opportunities are available at Northstowe, and who would you encourage to consider them?

“We deliver apprenticeships in bricklaying, groundworks, timber framing and site-carpentry. We want to reach people from a wide range of backgrounds, including school leavers and those looking to change careers.

“People often associate apprenticeships with 16- to 18-year-olds, but they’re open to adults of all ages, genders and backgrounds. At one of our other hubs, we even had an apprentice who was 62 and had decided to change careers. It’s certainly not just about school leavers.”

How can people get involved in an apprenticeship at the training hub?

“Come and see us! To undertake an apprenticeship, you need to have an employer. That applies to apprenticeships generally, not just those delivered by NHBC.

“We work with a range of employers, including homebuilders and subcontractors, and there are already homebuilding companies building at Northstowe. If you are interested but don’t yet have an employer, we’ll do our best to support you. We encourage employers to attend our open days and let us know about any vacancies. We can then try to match those opportunities with people who have enquired about our apprenticeships.”

How does the hands-on training at the hub help apprentices develop the skills needed to build high-quality homes and communities like Northstowe?

“Our apprenticeship programmes reflect real site conditions. Instead of traditional day release, we deliver an accelerated programme in blocks of time. This helps apprentices develop core skills early and put them into practice on site sooner, which also supports their employers.

“We train apprentices to NHBC Standards, which are industry-leading, so they understand the standards they need to be meeting before they go on site. Our intensive delivery model provides core training from day one,  enabling apprentices to return to site ready and able to contribute. NHBC’s approach means apprentices are qualifying in just 14 to 18 months, nearly twice as fast as more traditional routes.

“For each programme, apprentices initially spend two weeks at the NHBC Training Hub. They then return to site for up to six weeks before returning to the hub for another week of training. This pattern continues throughout the programme, allowing them to develop skills at the hub and then put them into practice and consolidate them on site.

“Our current cohorts are only on the second day of their second week, and they’re already learning to lay slabs and build walls. The work they’re producing is absolutely phenomenal.”

What opportunities could the hub create for young people, career changers and others living in Northstowe and the wider Cambridgeshire area?

“We’ve already made an impact through recruiting one of our technicians, who lives in Longstanton. We employed him a couple of months ago, and he’s just an eight-minute walk from the hub.

“Our apprentices aren’t all school leavers. Some have started their careers in other sectors before deciding to move into construction, so there are opportunities for career changers too.

“We’ve started working with Northstowe Secondary School on attending careers events, and we’re liaising with ambassadors about arranging assembly talks delivered by our trainers.

“We’re also looking at opportunities for prospective apprentices to visit the hub for taster sessions and work experience. We want to work with the school to give pupils who are interested in construction a chance to experience the trade in a realistic site environment.”

The hub has been delivered through collaboration between NHBC, Homes England and Keepmoat. Why has that partnership been important in bringing the facility to Northstowe?

“Each partner brings different expertise. It’s been great to work directly with Homes England and Keepmoat, who are involved in the development of Northstowe. That collaboration has been key to bringing the hub here.

“The hub can also help people see the career opportunities available in construction. People are often surprised by the earning potential in skilled trades, with bricklayers and groundworkers able to earn around £50,000 a year on average. If you work hard and progress into management, there’s the potential to earn a six-figure salary. Bringing those training and progression opportunities to Northstowe is really valuable.”

Looking ahead, what are you most excited about for the training hub and the role it can play as Northstowe continues to grow?

“I’d been waiting 11 months to reach the point where we could open our doors to apprentices, so welcoming them on Monday 5 October was incredibly exciting. I carried out their induction that morning, and by the second day of their second week, the skills they were showing were already amazing. 

“I’m just as excited to watch them develop. I can’t wait to see them achieve their qualifications and become Northstowe’s first graduates. We’ll definitely be having a big celebration!”

Who can residents contact to get involved?

“I’m the main point of contact, so residents are welcome to get in touch with me. If they’d like to look around the hub, we can arrange a visit.

“There’s also information on our website, and our open days are a great opportunity to come along and speak to us directly. We expect to hold around three a year, with the next taking place on 4 November. We’re hoping to hold another in March, with the date still to be confirmed.”

For more information on how to get involved, email: apprenticeships@nhbc.co.uk

For queries on travel or wider Northstowe construction on Phase Two, contact: northstowe2@homesengland.gov.uk