Member Article

Glossy future for Ashington apprentices

Five budding painters and decorators have been given the career boost they craved by signing up to paid apprenticeships with the council - the result of local Work Programme provider Ingeus partnering with Northumberland County Council’s Adult Learning Service.

The five – Michael Sonnenfield, Ben Groves, Ryan Tait, Carl Henderson and Gary Brown - were referred by their local Jobcentre Plus office to Ingeus, which delivers the government’s Work Programme throughout the North East. Supported by an employment adviser from Ingeus, each was offered the specialist help and encouragement needed to successfully apply for the apprenticeships at the Adult Learning Service, which is based on the North Seaton Industrial Estate in Ashington. Their new jobs will lead to recognised qualifications whilst the five refresh the interiors and exteriors of a number of council-owned properties, including schools and local government buildings throughout the region.

Michael, 22, had experience in restoration and construction prior to being made redundant by his previous employer. He then spent a year looking for work before Ingeus offered him practical job-seeking support. Likewise Ben, who’s 21, had also worked in the building trade and had applied for hundreds of jobs before being referred to Ingeus. He recognised the need for a qualification before embarking on a career as a painter and decorator, and says the apprenticeship with the council is the ideal answer – he is learning new skills and receiving a wage.

Ryan, also 21, had completed seasonal jobs in construction, but really wanted a full-time role where he could gain both the experience and qualifications he needed. He’s hoping the apprenticeship with the council will act as the springboard to establish himself as a professional painter and decorator. For 20-year-old Carl, the apprenticeship is his first job; he left college aged 17, but says his lack of experience has been his biggest barrier to getting a job. Likewise, Gary, 19, has never had a job and so is delighted that Ingeus helped him gain this apprenticeship and is hoping it will lead to a long-term career.

“Even in these difficult economic times it is hard to recruit new apprentices in the open market,” said the Adult Learning Service’s construction training manager Mike Smith. “Finding people who are well matched to the vacancies we have can be a full time job in itself, when I and my colleagues really need to be teaching and training. That’s why we value the service provided by Ingeus – they provide fully assessed candidates. Meanwhile our new employees are learning new skills each day and then putting them to good use. Local people have got jobs and training, and council tax payers are seeing the benefits because Ingeus’s services are free of charge.”

Mike Smith from Ingeus added, “We offer a twin approach, helping employers fill their vacancies whilst matching people to the jobs they offer. Our clients have developed their employability skills such as writing an effective CV and knowing how to conduct themselves in interviews. It’s great news for them and we hope that it will lead to more jobs for other people as we develop our relationship with the Adult Learning Service.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ingeus .