Pictured above: Whitefriars Housing's apprentice of the year
Mark Watts
Skilled young people in Coventry are celebrating their talents
whilst encouraging more young people to take up apprenticeships at
the start of National Apprenticeship Week.
Apprentices from Whitefriars Housing gave presentations to the
Lord Mayor of Coventry Cllr Brian Kelsey, master of the Freeman's
Guild in Coventry Derek Austin and chair of Whitefriars Mick
Rawson, as well as to staff and their families, at an awards
evening held at the housing association's Little Park Street
office.
Sixteen people aged 16 to 21 years old from across Coventry are
on the Whitefriars apprentice scheme working across the business in
repairs and maintenance, administration and finance. Each were
awarded for their special efforts.
The awards were handed out ahead of the start of National
Apprenticeship Week, which runs from Monday 7 to Friday 11
February, to highlight the talents and skills of apprentices and
celebrate the value of apprenticeships.
Nineteen-year-old Mark Watts from Foleshill, was named
apprentice of the year. Now in the second year of his three-year
apprenticeship with Whitefriars as a carpenter, he is also studying
for an NVQ level 2 in carpentry at City College.
He said: "I was really surprised to win the award but it has
made all the hard work worthwhile. I have had a few difficult
periods but people at work have helped me through it.
"The benefits of an apprenticeship are that you get to learn
lots of different skills, work with different people and get hands
on experience in a job. I would urge anybody to give it a go, show
you are keen to learn and people are willing to give you a
chance.
"I'm really enjoying meeting new people and learning new skills
and hopefully it is going to help me get a job."
Apprentice of the year runner-up was Sintija Brivniece, from
Foleshill, and special recognition awards were given to Kerrie
Duffy, from Willenhall, for qualification and achievement, Steven
McKain, from Finham, for effort and commitment, and Alice Stutins,
from Allesley Park, for most promising start.
The Whitefriars apprentice scheme, which has been running for
more than eight years, has seen 120 young people go through
on-the-job training. As a result the housing association has
employed 60 of those and the other 60 people have found employment
elsewhere. During 2010, five apprentices were taken on as
employees.
Simon Wright, group head of organisational development for WM
Housing, of which Whitefriars Housing is a part of, said: "As a
major local employer Whitefriars recognises there is a lot of
talent in the city, especially amongst young people. It is vital
that we continue to invest in apprenticeships in order to support
our local communities by offering young people an opportunity to
obtain nationally recognised qualifications whilst equipping them
with work skills and experience.
"Apprenticeships provide an excellent opportunity for employers
and young people to gain benefit from a really cost effective
investment."