Leading college celebrates National Apprenticeship Week

Construction Apprentice’s trade skills were put to the test all week by Jewson at Penwith College, as the firm challenged Carpentry, Bricklaying and Painting & Decorating Apprentices to competitions in various trade disciplines including fitting and making furniture, producing cavity walls and stop ends and painting within complex geometrical designs.

Apprentices Tom from Camborne Joinery, Adam from Cornish Heritage Builders and Charlie from JDS Properties and Developments carved their way to the top in the Carpentry competitions, while Ben from Rickard Builders displayed solid foundations for his future after scooping the bricklaying win and Can from West Country Maintenance Services rolled into first place in painting and decorating.

Jewson supplied all Apprentices with toolboxes, branded t-shirts and caps while winners and runners-up took home hoodies and certificates with winners also receiving £25 Love to Shop Vouchers.

Jewson invited trade professionals to help with the judging. James Gibbon from Westcountry Maintenance Services was so impressed by the work in painting and decorating he donated a £50.00 Dulux Decorating Centre voucher to the winner.

Meanwhile members of the Senior Management Team returned to the classroom to take part in Nursing, Carpentry, Engineering, Hospitality and Bricklaying Apprenticeship lessons.

It was top marks for Scott Cryer, Director of Finance, as he joined Nursing Associate Apprentices from Cornwall’s NHS and Care sectors to take part in a patient care revision quiz.

Adele Bull, Director of Curriculum Development, was a cut above the rest in her lesson with Hairdressing Apprentices while Jane Cashmore, Director of Operations, tried her hand at welding in augmented reality before getting on the tools for real.

Lisa Briscoe, Director of Student Experience and Lucy Maggs, Director of Operations at Penwith College, took a literal approach to the national theme ‘Build the Future’ in their Bricklaying and Carpentry lessons.

Hayley McKinstry, Director of Partnerships and Apprenticeships, Lowenna Bradley, Director of Quality, and Martin Tucker, Principal, all got a taste of Hospitality with Apprentices preparing sweet treats for the Principal’s birthday.

The College launched its National Apprenticeship Week celebrations with a bang on Monday, announcing the South West’s first Space Engineering Technician Apprenticeship (Out-of-this-world Apprenticeship a South West first (truro-penwith.ac.uk)) and welcomed hundreds to a Discover Apprenticeships Live Q&A on Facebook and the College website.

Employers received unrivalled support with the Apprenticeships: Build The Future Webinar on Friday, where Kim Conchie from Cornwall Chamber of Commerce, Sharron Robbie MBE from Devon and Cornwall Training Providers Network, Cathie Kessell from Cornwall Apprenticeships and James Collings from FootAnstey joined senior members of staff to discuss how Apprenticeships are supporting businesses with the ongoing challenges of Covid-19 and the Brexit transition.

Truro and Penwith College has been ranked as the top College provider of Apprenticeships in Cornwall by over 450 employers who took part in the Department for Education’s most recent Employer Satisfaction Survey and is in the UK’s top-10 of all College providers for learner achievement in the Department for Education’s latest Apprenticeship Achievement Rates.

Employers wishing to recruit Apprentices for September are encouraged to speak to the College as soon as possible with applications for the majority of programmes opening in March. Learners and employers can find out more at www.truro-penwith.ac.uk or by contacting apprenticeships@truro-penwith.ac.uk and 01872 305500.