YOUNG APPRENTICE IMPRESSES TOP HOTEL AGENCY

Tuesday 19 July 2005

Casey Spragett left Bishop Challaner School in Commercial Road, East London, in July 2004, intending to go into hairdressing and with no qualifications. Thanks to an apprenticeship scheme she has just won a great job and a pay rise with one of London's top hotel agencies, Russell Hotel Reservations in Paddington, West London.

"I was following the crowd when I went into hairdressing and left after a month. I always wanted to do something with travel and to get this job is a dream. I love it here", said Casey, who lives in Mile End Road.

Casey Spragett was introduced to the business by TBG Learning, an independent training provider, and she has been a huge success, so much so that her salary has risen to £12,000 from £7,000 after her probationary first 12 weeks.

"We're over the moon at how it's worked out. We wanted to recruit a young person we could develop here - and TBG Learning gave us the platform. We were able to start Casey on a lower salary for twelve weeks whilst we found out whether she was suitable. Casey is very capable and she's become an important part of our team, checking invoicing and dealing with senior clients. We're also very supportive of the training she's getting", said Ben Smart, Managing Director, Russell Hotel Reservations (part of RHR Group).

Through the apprenticeship programme Casey gets a visit at work every two weeks from a TBG Learning trainer and assessor who progresses her towards the business administration National Vocational Qualification at level 2 (equivalent to 5 GCSE's). The training includes maths, English and areas such as employment rights and health and safety and is free to the employer because it's funded through the Government's Learning and Skills Council, Central London.

TBG Learning's London Employer Division is based in Barking. Telephone 0208 591 8881. There are also TBG Learning Centres in Newham and Tower Hamlets.