BiKBBI News a week, I suppose it gives my working life a nice variation. I like the split if I’m honest. ▶ Are you impressed with the PROCAT set-up? Yes definitely. For a college that has only just set up these apprenticeships in conjunction with the BiKBBI, they really know what they are doing.
THE APPRENTICE The first batch of BiKBBI sponsored apprentices have begun their journey to becoming fully qualified KBB installers. We talk to one of them - George Alden-Smith about his first impressions and what his hopes and aspirations are for the future; we also speak to his employer, Marshall Scott Ltd, whose team are supporting him to find out their thinking and what they expect from George… ▶ Tell us a bit about yourself George, where are you from and how old are you? Maldon near Chelmsford, Essex. I'm 19. ▶ Who is your employer? Marshall Scott Ltd the company specialises in kitchen fitting. ▶ Have they been supportive in you taking an apprenticeship role? Yes, very much so. When they first employed me they set out what they wanted me to achieve and even paid for me to go on a starter electrical course in Gatwick. They paid for all my expenses too.
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▶ How is your time split between site work and college work? I have a day release on Thursdays to attend my apprenticeship course at the impressive PROCAT college. ▶ Which are you enjoying the most at the moment, the practical work or the theory at PROCAT? It depends, both really I guess. When I’m on site I work with just one installer every day and even though we get on really well he’s quite a bit older than me, it’s nice to see all my friends of around the same age at the college once
▶ How did you become aware of a potential career in kbb installation? Through a friend of my Dad. I had been working in carpentry in Colchester for about a year before I took this job and it all fitted perfectly because it stimulated my interest as a career and it also benefitted me for being located much closer to where I lived and better still, it involves working indoors and therefore out of the cold and inclement weather in the winter which I didn’t like . ▶ And why did you choose ‘fitted interiors’ course? I like seeing a job through from start to finish. To rip out a tired old kitchen and replace it perfectly with new units etc. gives me great satisfaction, I really enjoy it. ▶ Are you enjoying the course? Yes, definitely. ▶ What do you most like about KBB installation Standing back and seeing the end product at the end of a job ▶ And what do you least like? At the moment I’m not so keen on the plumbing. I’ve done quite a bit of it on site but we haven’t got to this area yet at college, maybe when we do I will enjoy it a little more.
