Apprentices to showcase skills to thousands at Birmingham’s NEC

BISHOP AUCKLAND, U.K. - Nov. 14, 2013 - PRLog -- Young apprentices from County Durham will be showcasing their talents to thousands at a national skills event at Birmingham’s National Exhibition Centre today and tomorrow.

Up to 75,000 people are expected to attend the UK Skills Show, where Bishop Auckland College apprentices Sam Scott and Bradley Chapman will be demonstrating their carpentry and tiling prowess.

The 18-year-olds, who are employed by Spennymoor-based housing provider Livin, will be working on the college’s 50m² exhibition stand in the Built Environment zone with lecturers Jason Howe and Gary Bainbridge.

The college is transporting 250 students to the NEC, including Year 10 and 11 pupils from three County Durham schools – Ferryhill Business & Enterprise College, Parkside Academy and Whitworth Park – who will compete against each other on the stand to see who can build a garden bench in the quickest time. They will also get to see the rest of the demonstrations across the huge arena and obtain careers advice during their visit.

Visitors to the stand will also get the chance to try their hand at joinery and tiling as part of the event’s Have a Go at Skills programme.

Sam and Bradley are taking the Level 2 Maintenance Operations Apprenticeship with the college, which was jointly developed with Livin and social housing repairs and maintenance provider Mears to meet their specific training needs. As well as joinery and tiling, it also covers plumbing, plastering and brickwork.

Bishop Auckland College Principal Natalie Davison said: “We are delighted to have been invited to be one of the key exhibitors at what is the UK’s biggest skills and careers event and are grateful to our industry partners Livin, Mears and Travis Perkins for their support, which has enabled us to attend.

“The college has built superb working relationships with local employers which have led to the development of apprenticeships and other vocational courses specifically designed to fulfill their training requirements, helping young people across County Durham gain the skills and qualifications firms need.”

The college’s attendance and travel costs were met by the EU’s European Social Fund.

For more information on apprenticeship vacancies and construction courses at Bishop Auckland College, visit start@bacoll.ac.uk or call 01388 443000. More information on The Skills Show at the NEC can be found at www.theskillsshow.com


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