Member Article

Training Provider’s 81Percent Employment Rate

(l to r) John Withers (Geowarmth),Ben Carruthers (Geowarmth) pictured with Ian Wood of TTA

Award-winning training company, North Tyneside-based Trade Training Associates (TTA), is really setting the standard when it comes to getting young people into work.

Established in 2008, the firm, which currently has 160 apprentices on its books, is sending out a clear message with its latest results to critics of apprenticeship schemes who claim that there is no sustainable employment for young people once they have qualified.

By working closely with employers, 13 of its first cohort of 16 trainees on the Domestic Natural Gas Installation apprenticeship have found sustained employment – which is equivalent to 81 percent.

As a result of the customer service training which is integrated within TTA’s specialist approach to delivering apprenticeships, four of the first cohort have gone into roles within the customer service sector.

Ian Wood, managing director of TTA, commented: “There are many critics of the apprenticeship system who say that training companies are turning out young people without due regard to their long term employability so that instead of becoming unemployed on leaving school they are merely delaying the day when they find they still cannot get a job.

“We take the view that the more employable we can make the trainees, the better. Firstly, they learn the theoretical aspects of their trade for around six months at our purpose-designed training centre, and then working with their employer, they are given the opportunity to gain substantial practical experience on live projects.

“This approach not only allows them to put what they have learned into practice, but also prepares them for future employment – whether they choose self-employment, go on to gain employment within the trade sector, or as this first cohort has demonstrated, seize an opportunity within an entirely different sector, using other skills developed during their time with TTA.

“We are extremely proud of our pass rates and the high standards of technical competency the apprentices achieve. This was confirmed by OFSTED within our inspection. Following on from the success of the first cohort, the next electrical trades cohort is coming through and a further gas cohort will complete its training in two weeks. All will pass their Level 3 qualifications.”

One of the first cohort to become employed is Ben Carruthers, who has been taken on as a technical co-ordinator by renewable energy specialist, Geowarmth. John Withers, managing director, was really impressed by Ben’s attitude and approach. He said:

“Ben’s role incorporates a range of tasks. We appointed him as technical coordinator because we felt it was a position that made best use of his skills. He is involved in preparing estimates and providing specifications for a number of different renewable energy systems. He will also become increasingly involved in project management as his skills develop. He is settling in well and we are very pleased to have offered this opening to Ben.”

Mr Wood added: “When trainees start working on real jobs it is quite different to working theoretically on site at TTA. They are required to undertake specific tasks to complete their qualification in peoples’ homes or on live construction sites and although it can be challenging for them, they are always accompanied by a fully-trained, time-served tradesman who will assess their work. Our assessors are all ‘off the tools’ so their commercial experience is of huge benefit to the apprentices.”

TTA is transforming the world of post-16 training and provides apprenticeships in heating, plumbing, construction trades, automotive sales and hair and beauty at its 25,000 sq ft state of the art training centre at North Tyne Industrial Estate, Benton, which is equipped with the latest technology and technical facilities.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Leigh Chelton .