Pictured: Sam Wood, 18, from Kingswinford
Teenagers are being urged to visit free road shows promoting
apprenticeships where they can 'have a go' at a trade or profession
as well as get expert advice.
And, like 18-year-old Sam Wood, they can sign up for
apprenticeships and find employment at each Black Country
event.
The Real Apprentice (TRA) showcase is being held at venues in
Walsall, Wolverhampton, Dudley, Sandwell, in February.
The aim of the free showcases is to encourage school leavers to
consider the many thousands of apprenticeship places available to
them as part of a push to get more young people into employment
with training.
The Real Apprentice showcase is organised by BCTG (Black Country
Training Group) based in Oldbury and supported by WorldSkills
London 2011.
Last year more than 15,000 under 19-year-olds took up
apprenticeships in more than 40 different occupations across the
West Midlands.
And for Sam Wood, from Kingswinford, a visit two years ago to
The Real Apprentice Showcase landed him immediately with an
apprenticeship and subsequently a job as an office
administrator.
He said: "I went along to the Dudley event two years ago and go
some great help from The Apprenticeship Works who signed me up
there and then.
"They got me a work placement at BCTG and sorted out my training
with a training provider. A year after my apprenticeship BCTG
offered me a job.
"It's great because I got paid, I got a qualification and I've
now got a job which means I can run my car and fund my the band I
play music in."
Chris Luty, BCTG director, said: "We have expert training
providers at each event with advice and information on a real
variety of apprenticeship options open to young people.
"The event has developed a good reputation among training
providers and colleges because it gives young people and their
parents the chance to talk to someone face to face about the
excellent career opportunities open to them.
"And this year we are offering young people the chance to have a
go with some bite-size tasters in various skills from motor vehicle
engineering, beauty and hospitality."
And it's worth 'having a go' at the activities because any young
person who 'has a go' at four activities during each showcase will
be entered into a prize draw to win an iPad 2.
The Real Apprentice showcase pulls up at Brierley Hill Civic
Hall, on February 2, Banks's Stadium Walsall February 6, The
Public, West Bromwich, February 7 and Molineux, Wolverhampton on
February 9. All events run from 2-8pm and are free.
Anyone who wants to find out more about being a Real Apprentice
can call free on 08000 321222.