MP builds on skills during Apprenticeship Week

Local MP Antoinette Sandbach watched horticulture trainees grow their skills during a visit to Reaseheath College on Monday.

The MP for Eddisbury was at the Nantwich college to help launch activities for National Apprenticeships Week, a celebration of the benefits that skilled apprentices bring to businesses and to the national economy by increasing productivity and ensuring workforce succession.

Antoinette joined the trainees, who are being prepared for entry into an apprenticeship programme, at Reaseheath’s new Centre for Horticulture, the Environment and Sustainable Technology.

After chatting to Latisha Woolley, 21, and Simon Daynes, 20, as they worked in the college’s high tech trial facilities, Antoinette said: “Apprenticeships offer a great option for both students and employers as they deliver the qualifications and skills that our growing industries require. Young people can earn while learning and also be confident that they have started on an excellent route into employment.

“It is good to see that Reaseheath puts apprenticeships at the heart of its education and training programme and that it works so closely with regional and national employers to make sure that its training programmes deliver appropriate skills.

“I am also delighted that the college, through its traineeships, is supporting the government’s agenda to ensure that young people who have left school remain on a training programme until they are at least 18 years old.”

Traineeship programmes provide progression into apprenticeships by giving trainees the chance to improve their English and maths, learn interview techniques, become more confident and receive support in their search for a suitable apprenticeship.

Latisha, of Crewe, completed Level 1 and Level 2 Diplomas in Horticulture at Reaseheath before moving onto her traineeship with Malkins Bank Golf Club, Sandbach. She enjoys helping to maintain the golf course so much that she is hoping to secure an apprenticeship in sports turf.

Simon, also from Crewe, has a Level1 Diploma in Horticulture and is actively looking for an apprenticeship in that field. He is currently gaining valuable experience at a Christmas tree plantation.

Reaseheath College is a leading trainer of apprentices and trainees throughout Cheshire and surrounding counties and also provides a valuable recruitment service for employers.

The college and its sister company DART Training currently trains around 1,000 apprentices and trainees. Reaseheath Training works with over 300 employers, from national blue chip companies to small, local enterprises, and is looking for more employers to take on apprentices.

Typically, apprentices receive academic and practical training at Reaseheath on one day a week and spend the rest of their week in their workplace. Training programmes can start at any time of the year, and there are vacancies in a number of trades currently available.

For further details see www.reaseheath.ac.uk/apprenticeships