Member Article

Durham Physiotherapy Business Backs Apprenticeships

Coxhoe-based Platinum Physiotherapy and Personal Training (Platinum PPT) is seeing the benefits of using apprenticeships to boost its workforce.

The Durham-based fitness and physiotherapy practice recruited its first ever apprentice, 20-year-old Jack Duffy, in July 2013, through award-winning Access Training and have been impressed with the potential he has showed during his year-long apprenticeship.

Mr Duffy who completed his Advanced Apprenticeship in Business Administration recently commented: “I’m delighted that I made the choice to join Platinum PPT and to follow the apprenticeship route. It’s quite a tough world out there for young people and finding a job is definitely not easy, so I feel really lucky.

“Before starting at Platinum PPT I was studying at sixth form college towards my accountancy qualifications but I had very little work experience so I started interning at various places, trying to build up my workplace skills. An apprenticeship seemed like the perfect thing for me as I really wanted to work and earn money at the same time.

“I’d say that the best aspect of my job is seeing the difference physiotherapy can make to people’s lives. Some people can barely walk when they come in but are completely different after a course of treatment.”

Jack’s line manager and qualified physiotherapist Neil Sleeman said: “We have been thrilled with Jack’s performance over the past year, he’s such a fast learner and with Access Training’s help has developed into an outstanding employee.

“This is our first apprentice at Platinum PPT and we’ve been overwhelmed by the success of the process. We decided to go down the apprenticeship route because we were desperate for more admin support but we wanted something that could combine the needs of the business with the needs of a young worker. It’s been so successful that we recently hired a new apprentice, Abigail Pirt, who has also learnt so much in a short time and is already a real asset to our business.”

Platinum PPT has a mix of 12 permanent staff and contractors for its various programmes; Jack is responsible for the administration side of all classes and programmes. Jack is ambitious and wants to progress with the company and gain more qualifications.

He commented: “Access has other courses that I would like to complete right up to the Level 5 higher management one and I know Neil would support my development right up to that level, which is great.”

Platinum PPT hit the headlines in 2010 when it, along with council funding, launched a pioneering programme called Cardi-Back. The programme aims to help people address lower back pain and get to the root cause, rather than trying to treat it with painkillers which don’t offer a long-term solution. Platinum PPT develops training plans with individuals to work with the body to reduce pain and to stop it recurring. The programme was borne following reports that 1% of the population are off work on any given day due to back pain, costing the NHS in excess of £1billion per year, and has already helped over 600 people.

Cardi-Back is part of the Move4Life programme, supported by Durham County Council Public Health and County Durham Sport, aiming to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes in County Durham through increased physical activity.

As well as the Cardi-Back programme, Platinum PPT also offers group classes, personal training, one-to-one physiotherapy and sports massage.

Access Training is an award-winning training provider with offices in Gateshead and Durham. It has been delivering training programmes for businesses and individuals across the North East for 30 years.

Apprenticeships with Access last between 12 and 24 months dependent upon the level undertaken, and are a mixture of workplace training, workshops, projects and assessments. All courses come with a qualification as standard such as an NVQ, and where appropriate functional skills in Mathematics, English and IT.

For more information on Access Training visit: www.accesstraining.org

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