Apprentices

The 20-year-old apprentice from Shirley in Solihull began working for the stylish boutique in December, and is enjoying building up his retail skills as trainee manager at one of just three Merc stores across the country.

Delivered by Solihull College, Craig is working towards an Apprenticeship in Retail which involves learning all aspects of the retail sector, from customer service and handling customer payments, to stock control and health and safety on the shop floor.

Craig is visited one day a week by a member of the College’s team of industry assessors, who observe him in the workplace and check his progress with meeting the requirements of the Apprenticeship.

Craig comments: “I’m really enjoying my Apprenticeship at Merc as it’s allowing me to learn all aspects of the retail trade, from dealing with customers and ensuring the shop is always presentable, to cashing up the tills and stock taking. Having the Apprenticeship qualification behind me will make it easier to progress my career and adapt to any area of the retail sector. I’m a fan of fashion and music so working in this environment every day makes it even more enjoyable.”

Established in 1967, Merc is a sleek and stylish fashion outlet selling clothes and accessories for men and women. The Solihull franchise is owned by Mario Giampaglia who also runs a similar clothing store Renegade in Coventry, where another Solihull College retail apprentice also works.

Mario comments: “I'm really excited to have such a great team working alongside me – Craig and Nick are very hard working and responsible young men. With the help from Solihull College they will both be qualified and drive our business to where we want to be.”

Situated in the heart of Solihull town centre, KCUK is a luxury hair and beauty day spa run by sisters Carla and Krystle. They set up their business in November 2008 having both completed Level 2 and Level 3 Hairdressing Apprenticeships at Solihull College.

17-year-old Charlotte, who is currently working towards her Level 2 Apprenticeship in Hairdressing, works at KCUK five days a week. Her role involves washing and blow-drying hair for clients, shadowing the hair stylists, and dealing with customers on the reception desk.

Charlotte comments: “I’m really enjoying my Apprenticeship at KCUK. I have always wanted to be a hairdresser and working in the salon means I can learn a lot more and get advice directly from experienced stylists. My confidence in dealing with members of the public has grown enormously and that’s something you can’t achieve from sitting in a classroom. I would definitely recommend the Apprenticeship to others wanting to become a hairdresser.”

As part of her Apprenticeship programme, Charlotte attends College every Monday for her classroom-based learning. The course encompasses a variety of modules including customer service, consultation, styling and dressing hair, colouring, and promoting products to clients.

Carla, Senior Stylist and Co-owner of KCUK, comments: “Having been an apprentice myself I know how beneficial working in the hairdressing environment is to help a person develop - you can’t simulate what happens in the workplace into college. It has been great to see Charlotte blossom into a confident worker and become a great asset to our team.”

Based in Sheldon, Signatures Hair and Beauty is a relaxed and friendly salon that offers a full range of hair, beauty and holistic treatments.

23-year-old Sarah, who is carrying out her Apprenticeship with Solihull College, has always had a keen interest in the beauty industry having grown up watching her mum at work, and she is now fulfilling her dream of treating clients herself.

Sarah comments: “Beauty has always been a passion of mine. I am thoroughly enjoying my Apprenticeship and learning from my mum makes it even more special. Working in the salon on a daily basis is allowing me to quickly develop my skills and experience, something I perhaps wouldn’t be able to achieve if I wasn’t doing the Apprenticeship programme.”

From manicures and pedicures, to facials and waxing, the Beauty Therapy Apprenticeship allows Sarah to practice all areas of the beauty trade, while learning the theory aspects of the qualification at Solihull College one day a week.

Carmel says: “As a salon owner there is nothing better than training staff the way you want them to work, and the Apprenticeship programme is the perfect way to achieve this. Investing quality time into supporting Sarah through her Apprenticeship enables her to become a highly trained beauty therapist, delivering a first-class service that I am happy for my customers to receive.”

Sarah is also a qualified body piercer, a talent she hopes to pursue further in the future, she adds: “After completing my Apprenticeship this summer, I plan to progress onto the Advanced Apprenticeship in Beauty Therapy, whilst also completing a qualification that will enable me to teach body piercing.”

Personal Touch Financial Services (PTFS) is one of the largest well-managed financial services distribution companies in the UK. Based in Solihull, PTFS has a diversified product range including mortgage, investments, and pensions. The company also provides ancillary compliance, training and marketing services to support the financial services community.

When the company heard about the Apprenticeship programme they thought it was too good an opportunity to miss. They comment: “PTFS has a long-standing relationship with Solihull College and we are actively involved in aspects such as NVQ training programmes and Job Fairs. We agreed to take part in the Apprenticeship Programme run by the College because it clearly benefits the apprentice and sits in line with the needs of the company itself.”

17-year-old Jack Pickersgill, currently on the Apprenticeship scheme at PTFS, comments: “I joined Solihull College straight from school with nine GCSEs and a dream to become an accountant. The Apprenticeship Programme gave me the chance to train and gain completely new experience until my course finishes in September. I keep in regular contact with the College as they come in every two weeks to review my progress.

“At the moment, I work in the Commissions Department and my role is to help the team make sure payments go through on time. It’s all completely new to me but it has reconfirmed my plan to work in the finance industry. After the course finishes I will need to look at further training opportunities either within Personal Touch or through other finance companies.”

PTFS adds: “Throughout the Apprenticeship we have been impressed by Jack’s commitment and appreciation of the opportunity. The programme is allowing Jack to continue studying while gaining valuable work experience within an office environment and specifically within administration and finance. This will prove incredibly beneficial for Jack when looking to his future and other roles he may choose to pursue."

From Personal Touch’s point of view, Jack is providing excellent support and benefiting the department in which he is currently working. All in all, the Apprenticeship is working well for both parties and we will continue to look at the Apprenticeship Scheme in the future.”

The Birmingham-based company that specialises in distributing goods globally, approached the College in the spring of 2010 after realising an opportunity to develop their workforce for the future. IML recruited the apprentice through the College’s Apprenticeship scheme and he is now working towards an Advanced Apprenticeship in Business Administration for one year.

The company, who have been thoroughly impressed with the quality of the apprentice’s work, comment: “Taking on an apprentice was a really positive move for us and we have been extremely pleased with the high level of candidate the College found us. We will definitely be using Solihull College in the future to secure further apprentices to work for IML.”

The apprentice comments: “My Apprenticeship is really enjoyable and it has made me more aware of people’s views and feelings towards individual roles within a working environment. It has helped me develop my skills both within the business as well as personally - I have gained much more confidence and independence than before I started. I enjoy feeling like I am part of a team - I know I have a lot of responsibility in my role and therefore I am rewarded for my hard work.”

We are one of the leading employee training providers in the West Midlands and Warwickshire. We take care of all aspects of training and delivery, which includes providing a learner training plan in accordance with the job requirements, regularly visiting the apprentices at work to observe and review them, and ensuring national quality standards are met.

Based in Solihull, Gemstone supplies a specialist range of services incorporating most areas of financial management, including debt management, lump sum negotiations, loans and insolvency measures. The company delivers customer-focused solutions that offer both the consumer and creditor an efficient debt arbitration service that helps customers find a way out of debt.

Neil Bowler, Finance Director of Gemstone Financial Management, comments: “Gemstone is proud to be part of the Apprenticeship scheme. Apprentices will receive support from the College and also gain a recognised qualification. Gaining hands on experience whilst being supported by our experienced employees will further their personal development.”

The two apprentices will be working towards a Business and Administration Apprenticeship where they will experience working in a variety of business situations and interact with people at all levels. The apprentices will learn about how a business operates and how an office runs, including customer service, communication technology and rights and responsibilities at work.

The apprentices will also attend Solihull College one day a week to learn the theory aspects of the Apprenticeship programme as well as being monitored in the workplace by the College’s team of assessors.

Neil adds: “In addition to the apprentice’s qualification with the College they will also be introduced to our very own, The Gemstone Academy, which ultimately leads to a BTEC qualification - the Certificate in Debt Resolution (CertDR). This will result in them having a well-rounded experience in business and specifically the financial management industry. I am sure this will be a very successful relationship for all involved.”

After being approached by employers in the local area, Solihull College saw a gap in the market to train people wanting to enter the IT industry. The College, which is a Microsoft and Cisco Academy, is offering an IT and Telecoms Advanced Apprenticeship suitable for apprentices wanting to further their career as an IT technician, network technician or database technician.

Apprentices will gain a number of academic qualifications including a Diploma in ICT Professional Competence, Certificate in ICT Systems and Principles, and Employment Rights and Responsibilities.

Alongside the Apprenticeship programme, the College is also offering IT apprentices the opportunity to gain a handful of industry-recognised qualifications. Apprentices will be able to study for Cisco, Microsoft and CompTIA qualifications, which will make them industry competent and a greater asset to employers.

Robin Foster, Programme Lead for IT at Solihull College, comments: “Our individually tailored Apprenticeship programme enables a specific training plan to be developed in partnership with the employer and apprentice. The enhanced Apprenticeship combines work-based and technical training to develop relevant skills and practical experience with valued, industry-recognised certifications.”

Based in Perry Barr, Wibbly Wobbly is a new venture by brother and sister business partners Najma and Tariq Aziz. Named after Najma’s son who, when walking as a toddler looked all ‘wibbly wobbly’, the children’s play centre offers a range of facilities to suit a variety of needs.

The College has been specially selected by Wibbly Wobbly to provide four apprentices for their new workforce, who will be working towards Apprenticeship programmes in Customer Service and Hospitality.

Najma comments: “Employing apprentices will be perfect for Wibbly Wobbly as we want staff that can grow with the business. Working whilst training will give the young people a great opportunity to gain their desired qualifications and at the same time develop their skills in the workplace. Choosing Solihull College was the best choice we could have made - they took all the recruitment pressures away from us and arranged an open day and pre-screening procedure for applicants, which has made the interview process so much easier.”

By taking on a team of apprentices Wibbly Wobbly will be able to shape their workforce to fulfil the company’s needs. The apprentices will be required to deliver reliable customer service and develop customer relationships, learn how to prepare and cook a range of dishes and understand the principles of maintaining high food hygiene standards.

Solihull College Principal, Brenda Sheils, comments: “We are really pleased to be working with Wibbly Wobbly and assisting them in developing a skilled workforce to make their new business a success. Our Apprenticeship programmes enable learners to develop vocationally relevant skills whilst achieving industry recognised qualifications.”

Wibbly Wobbly has a four-tier play frame and Wibbly Wobbly Web for older children and a smaller play area for toddlers, which offer an excellent opportunity for children to have fun and get fit at the same time. The play centre also caters for a variety of party packages.

Based in Birmingham, Petrel Ltd is a manufacturer of lighting and control equipment for potentially explosive atmospheres. Keen to recruit an Electrical Design Engineering Apprentice, Managing Director Peter Maclean has been working with Solihull College’s Employer Services Team to recruit the ideal candidate.

Peter comments: “I am extremely keen to grow the business and recruiting an apprentice will enable us to train someone from scratch to specifically meet the needs of the organisation. Working with Solihull College has enabled us to realise the potential of what an apprentice can bring to Petrel, how we can fill a skills gap and work towards driving our business forward.”

The apprentice will have a varied job role which will incorporate converting customer’s electrical specification into a functional production design. This will involve designing motor starters and switch gear schematics for explosion proof electrical enclosures, as well as creating production drawings in line with customer requirements.

Paul Leahy, Business Skills Manager at Solihull College, comments: “We have been working very closely with Petrel to help find their ideal apprentice, which has involved investing quality time and effort into selecting prospective applicants to fulfil the job role. Each applicant is invited to an assessment day at the College which we hope will not only provide candidates with the confidence to find out more about the Apprenticeship, but also enable Petrel to find a first-class apprentice to join their team, ensuring a swift and significant return on investment.”

Situated in Olton, Solihull, St Bernard’s Residential Care Home is a small, family run business that prides itself on providing person-centred care, with all activities focused on enhancing the lives of residents on a daily basis.

Care Manager Ann Coombs, who has always worked in a healthcare environment, knows how valuable it is to support her team, provide them with the opportunity to develop their skills and in particular, ensure they enjoy coming to work.

Ann comments: “Over the years I have witnessed some poor working conditions that I would never want a young person entering the healthcare industry to experience. Therefore during the eight years I have been at St Bernard’s I have always supported my staff through the Apprenticeship programme delivered by Solihull College and I can’t recommend it highly enough. The apprentices achieve industry recognised qualifications whilst gaining invaluable hands-on experience working at the Home, which helps them build a successful career in the healthcare industry and ultimately allows them to enjoy what they do.”

Health and Social Care Apprentice Jade Foxall has been working at St Bernard’s Residential Care Home for the last two months and is thoroughly enjoying the opportunity she has been given. From speaking and listening to residents, to assisting with their individual care needs, working at St Bernard’s is a very varied role.

Jade comments: “St Bernard’s is a great place to work and I’m really enjoying my Apprenticeship. The team are incredibly friendly and have made me feel very welcome. Every day is different which is great - from helping out at the residents’ art class to finding out about their life history; working at the Home is making me more determined to pursue my career in the healthcare industry.”

19-year-old Jade works at the Home two days a week and attends College for the remainder, where she learns everything from communication and completion of records, to the support, protection and well-being of others. She is regularly visited at the Home by the College’s team of assessors who observe her work and monitor her progress. This allows them to build up a positive working relationship with Jade and provide support to her for the duration of the Apprenticeship programme.

St Bernard’s Residential Care Home provides care for 38 residents employing a team of over 50 staff. It has recently started offering a day care service for elderly people wishing to fulfil their days with different activities, which is another aspect of the role Jade will get involved in. Over the next few months the Home will be taking on another two Health and Social Care apprentices with the support of Solihull College.