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Apprentice Academy success

Published: 01/12/2016

Flintshire County Council is pleased that four apprentices have recently started with Futureworks Flintshire. In October last year, the Council started working with Futureworks Flintshire to set an Apprentice Academy in the county. The academy is helping to maximise the creation of skilled local people through apprenticeships, which are needed for the Council’s major housing construction and refurbishment programmes over the next five years. The apprentices are working with council-appointed contractors – three with Wates Residential in Flint – Nathan Bloor, Jamie Hayward and Beth Mclellan and Harvey Appleby is with Keepmoat in Mold. Council construction contracts always place a requirement on the contractor to provide apprentice opportunities and to recruit local labour, however it is often difficult to complete the apprenticeships owing to the nature of the contracts. The creation of this academy will ensure that full apprenticeships can be made and delivered. Cllr Derek Butler, Cabinet Member for Economic Development, said: “The Council plans to spend around £150m on housing construction over the next 5 years and this creates the opportunity for some 50 apprenticeships to level 2, with some of these achieving level 3 and beyond. The type of job roles needed include traditional trades such as plumbing, joinery, plastering, gas and electrical, bricklayers, but also other technical and support roles such as tenant liaison officers and quantity surveyors which are often overlooked and are in great demand locally and nationally. “We also want to see a good programme in place to offer new and additional work placement opportunities for those furthest away from the work place such as those not in employment, education or training (NEET) and those with learning disability or mental health challenges.” Multi Skilled Trade Operative Apprentice, Beth Mclellan, said: “I applied for this apprenticeship so that I could understand and try different trades available within the industry. I was so pleased that I was successful in my application. Im enjoying it as each day is completely different and you have different jobs or tasks to do, which enables me to broaden my skills and gives me new experiences.” And another apprentice in Business Administration, Harvey Appleby, said: “I applied for an apprenticeship as I wanted to get experience in a real office environment whilst studying a college course. I have already learnt a lot of new skills and I am enjoying it very much.” Futureworks Director, Mark Scott, said: “We are passionate about providing sustainable futures for diverse ranges of talented young people. We are proud to be working in partnership with Flintshire Council to create additional opportunities on projects where they are difficult to achieve or often lost.” Futureworks Flintshire is a community interest company which has the relevant experience, the right culture and values to be a close partner to the Council and working with a third party reduces significantly the cost of scheme administration for the Council. For more information about apprenticeship opportunities please contact Amy Dutton on 01352 703453 or amy@futureworks.wales. Left to right front: Cllr Derek Butler - Cabinet Member for Economic Development, Jamie Hayward, Harvey Appleby, Beth Mclellan, Nathan Bloor, Cllr Helen Brown - Cabinet Member for Housing, Cllr Aaron Shotton - Leader of FCC Left to right back: Amy Dutton - Futureworks, David Williams - Keepmoat, Liam Manton and Darran Morrison - Wates Residential