Wirral Works helps create six new apprenticeship jobs

Mar 23 2011 by Jane Clare, Birkenhead News

Wirral Works construction students

UP TO six new apprenticeship jobs in the local construction industry are in the pipeline ... thanks to Wirral News, Wirral Metropolitan College and Wirral Partnership Homes.

A brand-new working partnership between Wirral Met and WPH will see apprentices being recruited in the innovative Apprentice Challenge.

This will be available to all age groups – school-leavers, young people aged between 16 and 18 and adults who want to develop new skills.

Sue Higginson, Assistant Principal at Wirral Met, said: “This is an exciting opportunity to work with Wirral Partnership Homes in what we believe is a unique project.

"Apprentice Challenge is an invitation to local people to apply for an apprenticeship with Wirral Partnership Homes to develop a career in the construction industry.

"There are several stages to the process which is aimed at providing an opportunity for local people to be supported in making an application and it is designed to help them demonstrate their skills and motivation in securing up to six new apprenticeship posts."

To support people in making their applications, Wirral Met will provide a series of workshops in the college’s Learning Shop in the Grange and Pyramids Shopping Centre, Birkenhead.

All applications will be considered and up to 200 people will be invited to find out more and undertake a short assessment.

Then 50 candidates will be invited to Apprentice Challenge, which will enable people to demonstrate their skills and what motivates their decision to become a WPH apprentice. There is no requirement for candidates to have any construction skills and school leavers, young people aged 16-18 and adults are all welcome to apply.

The application process for Apprentice Challenge begins this week. These need to be returned by Friday, April 15.

Long-listed candidates will be advised from Monday, May 23 whether they have reached the next stage of the assessments on June 1 and 2.

Candidates on a shortlist will then be informed in mid-June of their participation in Apprentice Challenge – a series of practical, communication and teamwork skills held during the week of June 27.

Following formal interviews, the chosen apprentices will be offered positions in August.