Ethos Public Relations Manchester

Joinery proves to be great move for Jack

by Ethos public relations

As thousands of young people struggle to find education and training opportunities after leaving school and college, Jack Galvin considers himself to be one of the lucky ones.

Jack has landed a three year site joinery apprenticeship with Hyndburn Homes Repairs and at just 16 years old he already has two years practical experience under his belt thanks to a collaboration between Bramall Construction, Accrington Academy and Accrington & Rossendale College.

“I always knew I wanted to work in construction,” said Jack who lives in Laneside with his parents. “I was really pleased when I found out that I could start getting some practical skills when I was 14 because it confirmed that this was the career for me.”

As a pupil at Accrington Academy Jack was able to attend Accrington & Rossendale College one day a week to learn the theory and work with Bramall Construction one day a week getting work experience.  He eventually left school with GSCE’s not just in academic subjects like English, maths and science but also with vocational qualifications in general construction, health and safety, bricklaying, joinery, painting and decorating.

“Jack’s record at school and his references from the College and Bramall showed him to be a young man who is hard working and determined to succeed in his construction career,” said Paul Earnshaw Team Leader at Hyndburn Homes Repairs. “This is exactly the kind of attitude we want from our apprentices.”

Hyndburn Homes Repairs is the largest direct labour organisation in the area and maintains over 3,000 properties for social landlord Hyndburn Homes. The company employs around 60 skilled workers and is proud of its apprenticeship scheme which currently employs 6 young people, including Jack.

“The apprentices like Jack work with craftsmen and women from various trades and concentrate on the trade of their choice - in Jack’s case joinery,” said Paul. “When he finishes his apprenticeship in three years he will be a time served and qualified joiner.”

The National Apprenticeship Serivce has a priority to deliver more young people to undertake an Apprenticeship. The longer term target is for at least one out of every five young people to be undertaking an Apprenticeship programme by 2020 and Jack is a firm believer in the benefits of this route.

“I’m the sort of person that learns by doing things rather than reading about it,” he said. “I’m getting lots of experience bringing empty properties up to standard for new tenants and watching how qualified joiners work.

“I still go to college once a week to do the theory which is obviously important – but for me, getting my hands dirty is the best part of the apprenticeship.”

Posted at 12^th October 2010