Tresham

Tresham Launches National Apprenticeship Week

01 Feb 2010

Tresham College of Further and Higher Education launched National Apprenticeship Week with the help of Phil Hope MP Minister for the East Midlands on Monday 1^st February 2010 at an event taking place at Rockingham Speedway at 12.30pm.

To raise awareness about how offering and studying apprenticeships can help the local area the National Apprenticeship Service will be based in a bus travelling across Northamptonshire throughout the week starting off at the launch event at Rockingham.

Tresham offers a variety of apprenticeships which provide vocational training on the job that is complimented by a day learning additional skills at college. To ensure a variety of apprenticeships are available for people aged 16 or over Tresham works closely with local and national organisations based in and around Northamptonshire to enable apprentices gain the on the job training that is vital.

At the launch event Tresham will be highlighting a new partnership that has been forged between the college and local development company, Bela, who are constructing Priors Hall Park in Corby. Bela believes that it is important to be involved with and support the local community and have been able to develop an opportunity for 40 NVQ construction students to gain experience of life in the industry.

Tresham's students will have the opportunity to gain ‘on-site' experience over a 20 week period and gain valuable knowledge about the construction industry together with an understanding of the pressures and responsibilities that come with the job. They will have the opportunity to learn skills in various aspects such as bricklaying and carpentry.

Alfred Buller, Director of Bela said:

"At the moment many of tomorrow's generation of workers don't know what to do or where they're going. We hope this scheme will allow the students more of a peripheral vision, so that they can understand first-hand that their qualifications at College are important and that it is the first step up a long ladder. They must hear from the horse's mouth that if they work hard then life will offer great variation and opportunity".

Darren Wright, Construction Director for Lagan Homes which is part of Bela said:
"We believe it's very important for the students at Tresham to understand life on the building site. Not only will the days on site involve activities that will test speed and ability for the required skills, there will also be a serious element which will show why health and safety and protocol are such an essential part of life on-site".

Colin Needle, Head of Apprenticeships and Construction at Tresham College of Further and Higher Education said: "This is a very exciting scheme for Tresham, the first of its kind in construction. The students will be very motivated to listen, learn and impress their instructors, and we hope them to be role-models for other young people in the local community".

As an added incentive, Lagan Homes will be offering 10 students who show most drive and ability whilst on work experience the opportunity of an apprenticeship slot with a tradesman on-site.

Darren Wright continues, "We hope this will show the students that if they work hard they can achieve their goals, and that there are jobs out there for people who apply themselves".