Young people interested in a career in construction will be able to hone their skills while helping to build the new hospital at Southmead.

The consortium responsible for the building project is recruiting teenagers to its apprentice scheme as it prepares to embark on one of the city's biggest building projects in recent years.

Carillion has its own training programme with a base in St Philip's, where young people will have the chance to learn the basic skills of brick-laying, carpentry or dry-lining before they move onto placements around the city.

With the £430-million Southmead Hospital redevelopment due to start in the spring, young people, particularly in north Bristol, will be get the chance to work on a large-scale project.

Carillion aims to have between 30 and 50 apprentices on the hospital site during construction. Some will stay with the company for their placements, while others will work for sub-contractors on the site.

At the vast training base in Avonside Industrial Park, apprentices combine classroom learning with practical skills.

The carpentry group makes window frames and skirting boards, while the bricklayers build mini walls.

Among the young people enrolled on the training programme is 19-year-old Aisha Evans, of Redcliffe.

She said: "I wanted to be an architect and I thought this was the closest thing I could get.

"I tried going to college but it just wasn't for me. I wanted to do something that was more practical. I've tried this now and I love it.

"We are doing joints at the moment and learning about health and safety regulations.

"I would definitely recommend this route to someone who wanted to get into construction."

Adam Morgan, 17, of Brislington, is 13 weeks into his brick-laying apprenticeship.

He said: "I have always been interested in construction and used to do a couple of driveways, helping my grandad out.

"It will be good to work on sites and to build something that is actually going to stay up rather than the walls we build here that get knocked down again."

The company has been training apprentices in the city for almost 35 years, although previously as Wimpey.

The teenagers who join the course are employed by Carillion and are then sub-contracted out to other firms for their placements.

Manager Hilary Greener said the firm works with 86 companies.

To encourage young people to sign up, Carillion has been working with schools and youth centres around Southmead and has put up posters in 35 shops in the area.

They have also been holding taster sessions to give teenagers the chance to find out more about the skills they can learn.

Carillion project director Tony Harden said: "This scheme will not only give young people the opportunity to be part of this stunning scheme but will also enable them to get skills for life and have good employment prospects long after the hospital is complete and fully operational.

"Carillion has a total of 200 apprentice opportunities in Bristol over the next 12 months.

"These opportunities are available at the perfect time for those who have just collected their GCSE results and who may have believed via the national media that there would be no apprenticeship opportunities available."