Eight local teenagers have been given their first step on the career ladders as they start on a new pilot apprentice training scheme with GEN II.
The places are part of a Government initiative designed to take local 16-17 year olds who are not in education or employment and provide training to support their transition into work. The learners started their training with GEN II this month in the engineering training centre in ENERGUS. Jordan Tyson, 16, from Seaton was one of the people selected for the scheme. Jordan explains “I joined sixth form in September but soon realised it wasn’t for me. I wanted to do something practical as well as studying so when I got the chance to join the pilot scheme at GEN II I was really pleased. The training is more complicated than I thought and there is a lot to learn which will definitely keep me busy and it makes it even better when you get paid while you are learning!” The apprentices are undertaking an NVQ Level 2 in Performing Engineering Operations and will be learning a range of skills including electrical installation, basic wiring, health and safety and fault finding. The apprentices are due to complete their training in September at which point they will hopefully progress to an advanced apprenticeship. Mike Smith, Managing Director of GEN II said “we are delighted that we have been able to offer this training to our local learners who until starting the scheme were unemployed. This training is part of our socio-economic strategy to provide high quality training for the local community. GEN II have trained over 1,200 apprentices for local employers. Our retention and achievement rates are amongst the top 5 in the UK and with so many young talented people there is no better time for employers to get involved in the apprenticeship training schemes.”