Blog for Future Finders College…
One Step at a Time…
This week is National Apprenticeship Week. Along with spending time at placements, we have been looking at various Apprenticeships, what they are, where we can find them, how they can help to achieve future aspirations and applying for them.
So, what is an Apprenticeship?
Apprenticeships are real jobs with training and are a great way to build your skills and future. From work with big brands to small businesses, health or public services, you could find an apprenticeship that suits you. You’ll learn as you go and gain valuable first-hand experience. You’ll also get a salary, training and other benefits such as holiday pay. And at the end of your apprenticeship, you’ll be qualified for a job. As well as learning at work, you’ll spend some of your time training. Training is related to your job and usually takes place at college, university or with a training provider but could be in your workplace. Training can be on day-release (which means going to college one day a week) or in blocks, so you may have a week of training in one go. Please find below a search link to the Apprenticeships available:
Find an Apprenticeship:
GMACS:
https://gmacs.co.uk/apprenticeships
I mentioned in one of our blogs a few weeks ago, that we were helping one of our students to route train – Well he has DONE IT!!!
This is an amazing achievement for him. From next week he will be making his own way to and from placement and means that he is now one step closer to securing a paid opportunity.
Our next piece of news is our ‘Day in the Life of…’
This week is all about Grace. Grace came to us from our Lumenus pathway. Grace is our ray of sunshine, who is always smiling, she never stops laughing, and she can talk to anyone about anything and will give every opportunity that is presented to her 100% effort! Grace spent her first term with us at the Library and this term we have moved her on to Age UK in Bury, where she is becoming more and more focused on her future. Grace, it’s over to you…
Grace – Age UK (Bury)
Grace is very busy on placement at Age UK in Bury. She comes into college for register and then sets off with her Job coach to Bury in the car. This is a very large shop and takes dozens of bags of clothes in every day from people donating to the charity, also toys, items of furniture, house hold goods and lots of bric-a-brac.
On arrival Grace hangs up her coat and puts her bag in her locker then asks the manager what needs sorting first and is then given a task to complete.
Today it was boxes of jewellery that needed sorting through and untangling which can take a while and needs lots of patience.
Once these items are arranged, she then has to decide if they are fit for sale, are they broken or badly tarnished and would someone buy them to wear.
Grace spent the day working with staff learning how and why they PAT test electrical items, finding serial numbers, making sure all the equipment is tagged and labelled for Health and Safety and preparing the items for sale.
Along with sorting and tagging clothes, there is a job that everyone loves to help with and that’s choosing an outfit and dressing the mannequin. Grace looked at accessories and clothes and chose the 2 outfits for the display. I think she did a great job, hope you like the pics.
This week we have had some amazing news from Grace – She is very excited about it and we could not be prouder of her. I can’t say too much about it until we have all the details but it is an amazing opportunity that will open up so many doors for Grace in moving on in to her future aspirations! One small step for Future Finders, one giant leap for Grace!
Next weeks ‘Day in the Life’ will be all about Nathan and what he gets up to in the Library.
When we finish the blog with another achievement being shared for Future Finders or any of our students, it makes you realise just how far the students have progressed… it makes you remember what you do it all for… it makes everything worthwhile! Happy Friday everyone!
Best wishes
Scott Mckeown
Head of New Bridge College