1ST TRAINEES GRADUATE FROM PAINTING & DECORATING COURSE

30 March 2006

The first group of 16-18 year-olds from South London to get geared up for new jobs in the construction trade locally will graduate this week from their painting and decorating course. They include Richard Seychell (age 17) from Hern Hill, Dane Junor (age 18) from Streatham Hill and Kevin Walker (age 17) from Vauxhall, all previously unemployed who will all be presented with DIY kits and certificates at a celebration event.

28 young people have learned the practical skills for painting and decorating in a specially built suite of rooms and with professional training from two experts in the trade. A further 28 will start the course next week.

The new facilities are a result of training company TBG Learning's collaboration with the Construction Industry Training Board and with the Lambeth Local Strategic Partnership ('Lambeth First') which is addressing training and employment issues for 14 - 19 year olds.

"As well as learning painting and decorating, all the trainees have passed a level 1 in literacy and numeracy. None of them had done any form of training before and lacked experience. To complete the course has been a real achievement and it has been the inspiration and kick start for them to progress further. Many are going onto Further Education College or onto an Apprenticeship training programme to gain higher qualifications and experience", said Errol Johnson, Tutor, TBG Learning.

The paining and decorating facilities were officially opened by Keith Hill MP (Parliamentary Private Secretary to Prime Minister Tony Blair) on 30 th January. He praised TBG Learning and said the new facilities were timely, with the Battersea Power Station and Clapham Park projects on the doorstep which required local people trained in these skills.

The painting and decorating course is one of a range of 'Entry to Employment' ('e2e') options on offer to 16-18 year-olds who have left school with few or no qualifications and are unemployed. The success rate is high - 67% of the young people who completed e2e in 2005 progressed into further education, employment or an Apprenticeship.

TBG Learning is also a popular provider of computer training and other adult learning courses. For information call in at TBG Learning at 13-14 Ellerslie Square, Lyham Road or telephone 020 7274 4106.