WIRRAL PARTNERSHIP HOMES CHAMPIONS THE CAUSE OF APPRENTICESHIPS!!
Although Wirral Partnership Homes are only a relatively young organisation, the emphasis that the Company places on training and in particular, on their Construction craft apprenticeship programme could not be greater.
The best way of describing the approach of the organisation to training would be to say that there is a real and demonstrable commitment that permeates throughout the organisation. Such a commitment exists at all levels, from the Board and the Executive Management Team, both of whom are strong supporters of our craft apprenticeship programme, through the various managerial tiers, to the operational workforce and the recognised Trade Unions. There is even a dedicated resource employed for this specific function.
Such a strong and demonstrable commitment can be evidenced in a variety of ways:
- Wirral Partnership Homes are one of the largest employers of construction apprentices in the region. We currently employ 25 apprentices across a diverse range of occupational sectors which has meant a significant and substantial amount of investment on the part of the Company to promote and continue such provision.
- Wirral Partnership Homes are one of the very few employers who have sought to continue to support the local construction economy by regularly recruiting a new annual intake of full construction apprentices, in a climate where such positions are extremely scarce. Such opportunities regularly attract a massive volume of interest (750+ applicants in 2008).
- Wirral Partnership Homes have established an excellent reputation amongst local and national training networks as a result of their commitment to provide high quality training opportunities for their apprentices. As a result of this, Wirral Partnership Homes have been invited to participate as an employer representative on various Industry Boards and Steering Groups at both a local and national level.
- Such a reputation applies equally in terms of the on-going support that is offered through the work experience placement opportunities which we provide for many local school pupils, college students, trainees from training providers and women seeking experience of construction. Indeed, such commitment was recognised at the Wirral Star Employer Awards in February 2008, when our efforts were recognised by winning the award for the Work Experience category.
- During National Apprenticeship Week in February 2008, our Apprentice Training Manager was invited to be interviewed live on national TV on the BBC Breakfast Programme to promote the notion of apprenticeships for all and to encourage participation from individuals and employers. (Click here to see this interview).
- As a result of one of Wirral Partnership Homes’ Construction apprentices winning a national award in 2007, we were invited by the National Sector Skills Council, Proskills, to write an article to provide an employers perspective as to the benefits of engaging in the training of apprentices. This article was subsequently published in various national publications and on several websites. (Click here to read this article).
- Recruitment by WPH of our own apprentices is of great value to the organisation as it is an investment to ensure that we are training our own skilled trade operatives of the future. It also acts as one of many ways of engaging with the local community as it enables the company to assist the local population by contributing to the employment of local people.
Chris Boynton, Apprentice and Technical Training Manager for Wirral Partnership Homes, recently appeared on the BBC breakfast news discussing apprenticeships programmes. Watch the full video clip below!