MAYOR PRAISES SUCCESS OF APPRENTICESHIP TRAINING

30 December 2005

A Council training programme, 'Head Start', that has helped local young people gain qualifications and win permanent jobs at the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea has been praised by its Mayor, Councillor Warwick Lightfoot.

"It's very impressive to see young people achieving workplace skills and employment on this scheme. I was involved in the development of the National Vocational Qualifications in a former role and I'm now seeing them in action in the workplace", said Councillor Warwick Lightfoot, Mayor, Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea.

The Mayor, a former special adviser to the Secretary of State for Education, presented certificates earlier this month (14 December) to 16 young people who are currently on the Head Start apprenticeship programme, which was developed by the Council in partnership with training company TBG Learning. They included Alexandra Maher, aged 21, Eleaine Levi, aged 20 and Jamie Gallagher, aged 22, who have all recently completed the one year apprenticeship and won permanent jobs.

"The whole experience has been a great opportunity for me", said Jamie Gallagher, who worked in Sainsbury's before applying for the Head Start programme.

Head Start, already completed by 34 young people in the past two years, recruits 17 - 24 year-olds who have no previous experience in either administration or customer service and employs them on a one year contract, during which time they experience working in a variety of council departments. TBG Learning's tutors have regular contact and assess progress to help each apprentice achieve National Vocational Qualifications at Level 2, equivalent to GCSE grades A-C.

Commenting on the success of the programme and the relationship with TBG Learning, Nick Alcock, Acting Head of Learning and Development at Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, said:

"Working with TBG is an example of excellent partnership working. TBG have worked hard to understand our organisation and provide a flexible, tailored service that responds to our needs."

80% of the 34 young people who have followed the programme have achieved qualifications and 70% have won permanent jobs at the Council in a variety of departments.

For further information please contact:
Penny Arbuthnot, Project PR
Telephone 01473 232385 - 07885 238374