Apprentice challenge recruitment process now under way

May 23 2011

WIRRAL’S new Apprentice Challenge has got off to a flying start – with hundreds of people bidding for the chance of an apprenticeship in the local construction industry.

The unique project – backed by Wirral News – has seen Wirral Metropolitan College and Wirral Partnership Homes work together to create six brand-new apprenticeships.

Other companies have also approached Wirral Met to create new jobs under the Wirral Works campaign launched by this paper in February.

The recruitment process for the WPH roles is now under way.

Sue Higginson, Assistant Principal at Wirral Met, said: "Since Apprentice Challenge was launched, we have been inundated with calls from people interested in taking up this amazing opportunity.

"We have had more than 500 expressions of interest and are delighted to be involved in a project that will bring real jobs to help stimulate the local economy."

The six successful applicants will be offered apprenticeships with Wirral Partnership Homes, the borough’s largest provider of social housing which is currently working to produce a shortlist of 200 candidates.

The next stage of the process involves these 200 people undertaking a short assessment at Wirral Met’s Conway Park campus, an exercise that will be held over two days on June 1 and 2.

From there, around 50 will be selected to go forward to Apprentice Challenge that will be a series of practical, communication and teamwork skills to be held at the college’s Plumbing and Gas Skills Academy at Lumina Park, Bromborough.