Colchester Success Stories

Essex Employer Division Paints Another Success For Tendring's e2e Learners

Jan Climpton, who runs the family business Old Road Paints with her husband Stuart and son Mark, has just employed Joe Benson, aged 17, as a second recruit who’ll train on an Apprenticeship with Essex Employer Division and gain a valuable qualification in Customer Service as he works. Another employee Sky Boltitude, age 19, has just completed his Apprenticeship in Customer Service with the Employer Division.

Joe and Sky had left school with no qualifications. They had both attended local training company TBG Learning, whose ‘Entry to Employment’ programme boosts the confidence of school leavers through help in basic skills, advice on careers and work experience. TBG Learning also arranged a DIY course for Joe, which got him interested in doing a work placement at Old Road Paints, which led to the job offer.

“We’re proud of what Sky and now Joe are achieving - the qualifications are important when they haven’t achieved any at school, because they prove they can do the job. More businesses should give local young people a chance like we do”, said Jan Climpton, Old Road Paints, which has been established for 34 years and supplies domestic and trade customers with paints and wall coverings.

Joe Benson, said “I enjoy it here and am grateful to TBG Learning and Old Road Paints for giving me the opportunity of a job and training.”

Liam Winter

My name is Liam Winter. I have been on the e2e course at TBG Learning for three months and I have had a great time.

While on the e2e course I have improved my literacy, numeracy and I.T. skills. We also had a football team at the centre, which I was the captain of. We played two games while I was captain and we won both.

I left the course because I was given a months trial with a builders as a labourer. This was good, as I have always wanted to work in construction.

Lloyd passed his OCR ITQ 2

Photographed here being presented with his certification at Everystep in Colchester by Tracey Douglas & David Kerridge. Lloyd receives his OCR ITQ 2 Certificate showing his commitment in Information Technology by completing the course and passing the exam.

Lloyd was the first candidate in the area to take the course, and even the Assessor was breaking new ground covering the course for the first time, so they were actually supporting each other in this learning curve. Next year TBG Colchester intends to offer this course to learners—so Lloyd will be perfectly placed to run the course with knowledge and confidence.

Well done Lloyd!