Member Article

National apprenticeship challenge set to help local community

Nine North East apprentices are putting their training into practice and supporting the local community, by teaching their hospitality skills to kids and young adults with learning difficulties from the region, as part of a national apprenticeship challenge.

The apprentices, who are all working at Amber Taverns pubs across the North East and undertake specialist hospitality and catering apprenticeships with HIT Training, are participating in the Brathay Apprentices Challenge.

Designed to spread the news about the benefits of apprenticeships, part of the national Challenge is to ‘take part in a community project that will benefit young people in the short and long term’. The team is planning an event to support the South Tyneside’s Kids And Young Adults Klub (KAYAK), aimed at introducing those with learning difficulties to the world of work, while giving them confidence in their abilities.

Due to be held on Sunday 2 April at Amber Tavern’s Pig Iron pub in Middlesbrough, the event will see the apprentices use their skills to train the KAYAK attendees. Four work stations will be set up teaching how to make mocktails, prepare buffet food and cake decorate, set up AV equipment and DJ, and the best use of IT skills to create records of achievement.

After the training period, which will run from 12-3pm, family and friends of the KAYAK members will be invited along to enjoy a relaxed afternoon where they can see the new-found talents of their loved ones, as they play music and serve food and drinks in a party environment.

Lyndsey Urwin, trainer assessor at HIT Training, said: “The Brathay Challenge really fits with our positive vision of what apprenticeships can do to improve an individual’s skills and therefore their life chances. This event is a great opportunity for the team to pass on what they’ve learnt while benefiting the local community - they should be very proud of everything they’ve achieved so far.”

The Brathay Apprentice Challenge is delivered by the Brathay Trust and the National Apprenticeship Service and regional heats are now underway. To win the Challenge, teams take on a series of exciting and interactive work-related challenges to develop new skills and showcase their employer by engaging with young people and businesses to promote the benefits of apprenticeships. The challenges are designed to demonstrate team building, leadership, logistical and communications abilities.

Emma Lickard, pub manager at The Pig Iron, herself an apprentice, is looking forward to the event. “We’re all very excited about it.” she said. “It’s a great opportunity to show these young people what skills you need to work in the pub industry. It’s sometimes seen as a stop gap to a better career but there are loads of fantastic opportunities and careers available for those prepared to work hard.

“Apprenticeships are such a good way to get into work.” she added. “Personally, I learn a lot quicker and more efficiently, hands-on than I ever did in a classroom environment. And the support we get from HIT Training is brilliant. They are always there when I need help and, importantly, are completely flexible when it comes to the training which, for me, is essential when running a busy pub.”

During National Apprenticeship Week earlier this month, Emma and other members of the team engaged in a job swap where they enjoyed a day’s role reversal with their area managers. “It was really insightful.” said Emma. “It really made me look at the bigger picture and I learned a lot about the wider pub business.”

The Brathay Challenge Event run at the Pig Iron with KAYAK members in attendance will run between 12pm and 6pm on Sunday 2 April and will be attended by Labour MP for Middlesbrough, Andy McDonald.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by HIT Training .