On large construction projects, it has historically been difficult to create many apprenticeships. This is primarily due to the fact that the framework for internships with several years with the same employer is not compatible with the gigantic construction projects, where companies are typically not on site for the four years of the apprenticeship programme.

For a number of years, Metroselskabet has worked hard to get more apprentices on the metro construction site. It has not been easy, but despite the many challenges, in collaboration with the main contractor CMT and the social partners, the company has succeeded in training apprentices equivalent to almost 190 FTEs on the M3 line construction project, which corresponds to approximately 50 full apprenticeship programmes. However, many more apprentices have been involved in the project for periods ranging from a few weeks to several years at a time.

‘On a very large project with more than 24 different nationalities, apprentices have been quite a task and we have certainly learnt a lot. We can see that we need to take some extra steps on site and manage the programmes even more to ensure quality. We now have a good experience base that we can take with us and share with others,’ says Sigurd Nissen-Petersen, Deputy Director at CMT.

Among other things, a partnership agreement with the social partners and a new training model have helped to ensure more apprentices on the metro construction project. In 2013, the Metroselskabet board also decided to introduce social clauses in all future contracts with a requirement to employ apprentices. This means, for example, that the contractor can be fined if the apprenticeship requirement is not met and receive a bonus if extra apprentices are taken on.

‘If we are to succeed in creating more apprenticeships on major construction projects, we need to think and act differently and not be afraid to try different things. That's why in recent years we have continuously launched new initiatives to attract even more apprentices to the metro construction project,’ says Louise Høst, Planning and Labour Market Director at Metroselskabet.

One of the many apprentices who have received their training at the metro construction company is 25-year-old Nicklas. He graduated as an electrician in 2017 and, after a year's employment at Copenhagen Airport, he now has a permanent job at Metro Service, which is responsible for the operation and maintenance of the existing Metro.

‘Metro construction is really good to have on my CV. It's an international project where you get a lot of responsibility, and it's been a really good stepping stone for me. My English has also improved 400 times. I'm proud to have been part of a construction project that is so big and that will change the city. It's also great to think that sometime in the future, when I take the Metro with my children, I can say: ‘I helped make that,’ says Nicklas Sørensen.

In collaboration with the vocational schools, Metroselskabet has since 2015 used a scheme where young people can be apprenticed at several different companies during their training programme. In this way, the apprenticeship programme has been adapted to better match the needs of the major construction projects. It also gives the apprentices a larger network that can help them advance in the global labour market.

‘Metroselskabet has launched many initiatives itself and has had a targeted focus on securing apprentices on the projects. However, not all clients have the same volume or can handle the same setup in collaboration with their contractors. That's why we have just launched a new project to help clients create more apprenticeships,’ says Henrik L. Bang, Director of the Danish Association of Construction Clients.

The Danish Association of Construction Clients has joined forces with the Capital Region of Denmark, Region Zealand and Grundejernes Investeringsfond to spend DKK 4.5 million to create more internships on large construction projects. The aim is to get more young people through vocational training programmes and thus more skilled workers for the construction industry.