Shared apprenticeship schemes secure long-term training in Lancashire n Six apprentices are being guaranteed placements for the full-term of their training, thanks to a partnership between Lancaster City Council, Preston-based social housing rengeneration specialist Forrest, Constructing the Future Lancashire and CITB ConstructionSkills. The initiative, unique to the north west of England, is unlike other Shared Apprenticeship Schemes, which work on an ‘on-demand’ basis and place apprentices back in the pool once a contract has ended. The apprentices will be employed by Constructing the Future Lancashire, with Forrest and Lancaster City Council exclusively sharing the responsibility of providing the six apprentices with the work-based element of their apprenticeship, for the length of their course. Forrest will utilise the apprentices – two plumbers, two plasterers and two joiners – to
support its work on Lancaster City Council’s Planned Maintenance Framework. First of the recruits was apprentice joiner Reece Robson McClintok, from Morecambe, who said: “I’m excited about joining the scheme because it allows me, over the next 3 years, to gain a wider range of experience working for both Forrest and Lancaster City Council, enhancing my future career opportunities with both organisations.” Lee McCarren, chief executive at Forrest, said: “Working in tandem with local authorities is what allows us to offer valuable employment opportunities when some apprentices are struggling to complete their courses after being laid off due to declining trade. Our long-term offering will allow the first cohort within Constructing the Future Lancashire to work alongside our capable team and hone their skills.” Coun David Smith, Cabinet member with
responsibility for Environmental Services, said: “We were delighted with the response to the recent open day and were inundated with applications for the apprenticeships. I’m pleased that through this innovative scheme we have been able to give six school leavers the opportunity to carry on their studies and gain valuable hands on experience alongside a skilled workforce.” Jane Smith, Constructing the Future Lancashire, said: “Our aim is to keep the construction industry buoyant and plug the skills gap, but without the support of local employers our initiative would be redundant. The guaranteed work allows apprentices to put their theoretical learning into practice to prepare them for a career in the industry.” q
Women are encouraged to learn skilled trades n When 16-year-old Milana Julie Dodangoda told her friends and family she was going to Leicester College to learn skills such as plumbing and carpentry, there were a few shocked faces. Milana is one of 128 female apprentices who have been taken on by Leicester City Council over the past 25 years to learn new skills such as plumbing, painting and decorating, and electrics. This year, 15 trainees have enrolled on the five-year Maintenance and Operations Level 2 Apprenticeship – a third of whom are female. The apprenticeship enables the learners to become qualified and skilled in a variety of areas, so at the end of the course they are ready to take on a job with Leicester City Council, carrying out maintenance on its 22,000 plus tenanted properties. Milana said: “I think people were quite shocked at what I was choosing to do because I am quite a girly girl. Everybody said it was going to be hard and I expected that. But I like to surprise people.” Leicester City Council’s Apprentice Co-ordinator, Barry Sullivan, said: “More than 50 per cent of the population is female, but that still isn’t reflected in our workforce. We feel it’s important to reflect both the local community and our customers. But it’s not just a matter of equality, it makes business sense too. Some of our customers prefer to have a woman come to their house.” At 16, Milana is the youngest apprentice on the course this year. She explains: “At home it’s just me and my mum. She has always taken care of everything that needs doing in the house and I’ve helped her along the way. Between us we’ve decorated, laid floor boards and re-tiled walls, so home maintenance was something I already had an interest in.” “To get the chance to learn five different trades on one course is a big opportunity for me. I didn’t feel university was for me as I wanted to gain more practical experience. I know five years is a big commitment, but I’m working towards qualifications with the College and will hopefully have a career with the council when it comes to an end.” Barry added: “Both the Council and Leicester College are leading the way in creating positive action for encouraging women to study trades that are
traditionally targeted at men. Other organisations offer apprenticeships but we really believe our course is more in depth and of better quality than some others out there.” q
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