UK
Apprentices from detergent, hygiene and construction chemical manufacturer Christeyns, represented their company at the Bradford Academy Experience Day held on 16 November. Adam Brookfield, 18 and Jordan Smith, 21, spent the day meeting and talking to students from across Bradford about apprenticeships and their own experiences at Christeyns.
The careers event, organised by Yorkshire-based social enterprise Ahead Partnership, brings together a cross-section of different industries, providing an opportunity for students to ask questions, gather information and find out more about job opportunities and apprenticeship roles.
Neville Kildunne, works manager and apprenticeship scheme mentor at Christeyns commented: “Apprenticeships are at the heart of our staffing policies and we are committed to developing the region’s future talent. Our apprentices attend several events over the year, which not only help to encourage other youngsters to consider an apprenticeship but also develops their own social and communication skills.”
For over a decade, Ahead Partnership has been connecting businesses with people and communities, using partnership as an engine for social and economic change. “Helping young people understand more about careers and apprenticeships is most effective when they can hear about them first-hand from business volunteers and ask them their own questions,” said Tom Mansell, Ahead Partnership’s project manager in Bradford. “With Christeyns’ support we’ve helped over 1,100 Bradford Academy students explore apprenticeships through the experience day and we’re looking forward to seeing their volunteers at more of our interactive events across the Yorkshire region.”
Recent information issued by the Government’s Education and Skills Funding Agency shows apprenticeship participation now stands at a record level - with 509,400 apprenticeship starts in the 2015 to 2016 academic year of which 131,400 were under 19 years old.
Apprentice Jordan Smith, now in his second year at Christeyns said; “It was a great event and we chatted to lots of students, many who didn’t know much about what an apprenticeship involved. Starting a career this way, learning on the job and earning at the same time is such a good start.”
There are currently six apprentices undergoing various programmes at Christeyns and a new Talent Academy scheme is being put into place with the aim of developing employees across all levels of the business.
CAREERS EVENT: Apprentices Adam Brookfield and Jordan Smith talked to students from across Bradford about apprenticeships and their own experiences at Christeyns
