Chevin help trainees secure apprenticeships
Two youngsters are looking to the future, thanks to Chevin Housing and Bramall Construction.
Brenton Johnson, from Airedale, and Jordan Ward, from Streethouse, Nr Wakefield have recently embarked on three year apprenticeships in construction-related trades.
Whilst at school, Brenton studied at Chevin's Construction Training Centre in Featherstone one day a week for two years, through Wakefield MDC's Offsite Learning Workstart programme. In 2009 he successfully passed all of the required units and was awarded his City and Guilds Level 1 in Construction certificate.
Brenton said: "The course run through Chevin helped me to decide what I wanted to do when I left school and it has given me a qualification, lots more confidence and some experience in the sector which I will use throughout my apprenticeship. I am over the moon that I have been offered this opportunity with Bramall as this is what I really want to do. Through my apprenticeship, I have also got a place at Wakefield College on a bricklaying course and I am really looking forward to starting this in September."
After leaving school Jordan also undertook some training at the Chevin centre as part of Wakefield College's e2e programme, completing a 15 week construction taster session and gaining some of the units needed to make up the Level 1 certificate. Like Brenton, the training gave him an idea of what he enjoyed and wanted to do when he left school.
Jordan says: "I have always enjoyed carpentry and joinery and when I went to the taster sessions that Chevin were running this really made my mind up that it was something that I wanted to take up. I am really happy to be getting up on a morning and to have a job to come to, learning new skills and gaining experience on site. Like Brenton, I am also attending college in September to learn joinery and carpentry and it's great to know that hopefully when the apprenticeship is done in three years I will come away with lots of experience and qualifications to secure me a job doing something that I really enjoy."
Fiona Ratcliffe, Apprentices Co-ordinator at Bramall, said: "We are delighted that Jordan and Brenton have joined us as apprentices. We fully appreciate the enormous benefits that training can bring and wherever possible we seek to create new job opportunities for talented, hard working and ambitious individuals. It is fantastic that we are in a position to offer training and apprenticeships positions in the current economic climate."
Steve Close, Group Chief Executive of Chevin Housing stated: "I am delighted that our efforts to provide local youngsters with the chance to get some practical training and qualifications is resulting in employment opportunities. Both these lads have shown that there are rewards for hard work and I wish them every success. Our training centre is proving a great success and our partners, in particular Bramall, have been quick to ensure that there is a step into employment via their apprenticeships once the initial training has been completed.
Photographed: Brenton and Jordan on site at South Kirkby ready for work.
