Apprenticeship Week!
Patrick Hall, MP for Bedford and Kempston,
launched Apprenticeship Week at Bedford College by shadowing an
electrotechnical apprentice and electrician on site on Monday 1
February 2010.
Shadowing apprentice Danny Foolkes and
electrician Karl Mastrolacasa with Craddocks Electrical
Services Ltd gave Patrick the opportunity to find out what it means
to be an apprentice working with a local company and studying at
Bedford College.
Talking about the apprenticeship scheme,
Patrick Hall MP said:
“It is good to see apprenticeships making a
comeback and encouraging seeing the co-operation between government
(LSC), Bedford College, local employers and students that makes the
apprenticeship scheme such a success. This is an excellent example
of investing in skills for the future.”
Apprentice Danny Foolkes is in his first year
of a three and a half year apprenticeship,
working four days a week on site with Craddocks Electrical
Services Ltd and studying one day a week at Bedford
College. Danny is following in his family’s footsteps - his
grandfather is the founder of the family run business based in
Bedford. Danny added:
“There is certainly a lot to learn and the
combination of on the job training and studying at Bedford College
suits me. Experienced electricians tell me that they are
continually learning and so it doesn’t stop once you are
qualified. We learn all aspects of the trade and safety plays
a huge part.
“The tutors at Bedford College have all worked
in the trade and their experience and knowledge is a really
valuable part of the apprenticeship scheme.”
Bedford College has over 215 apprentices
working in a range of sectors and industries and works closely with
employers to ensure that apprentices of today become the qualified
workforce of the future.
Apprenticeship schemes blend work and study to
offer young people the chance to become qualified in the sector of
their choice, with four days a week in the workplace
and one day a week in College. They learn what it means to
work and to study for industry recognised qualifications leading to
careers in Business
Administration, Catering, Construction,
Child
Care, Customer
Service, Electrotechnical
Services, Electrical
Engineering, Hairdressing,
IT, Mechanical
Engineering, Motor
vehicle and Plumbing.
Apprenticeship Week is a national event
celebrating the talents and skills of apprentices and highlighting
to employers the advantages of supporting apprentices in the
workplace.
WICed (Women in Construction and Engineering)
will be held on Friday 5 February at the Bunyan Centre, Mile Road,
Bedford. The event is aimed at women of all ages to encourage
them into the fields of construction and engineering.
BedfordCollege is one
of the top ten FE Colleges in the UK with Outstanding Ofsted and
Beacon Status awards among many others.
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