Home work challenge for apprentices
Qualified joiner Adam Scott, who is overseeing the project, with plumber Ben Pass, joiners John Tuck and Liam Traba, bricklayer Joe Gadsby, joiner Michael Corness, plasterer Richard Leonard, administrator Katie Hall, plumber Ryan Irving-Carr and electrician Shane Bryson.
A TEAM of apprentices have been undergoing a challenge of completely renovating a Bedlington home in just ten days.
The nine Bernicia apprentices have been taking part in the project in Sandfield Road designed to give them real hands on experience of the type of work they will be expected to tackle on their own after they have completed their apprenticeships.
In a property needing significant improvement, the work required included a new kitchen and bathroom, living room floors, preservation and plastering works to the ground floor walls, replacement of internal doors and electrics.
Once the work was completed the property was thoroughly inspected and checked before being let to a local family on the housing waiting list.
Andrew Richardson, head of property maintenance with Bernicia, said: “The main aim of the project was to instil into the apprentices a sense of ownership for the work they do.
“At the moment they tend only to assist qualified tradesmen and women, this means it’s easy for them to feel that they don’t really have any responsibility for the work they carry out.
“From personal experience, I know that taking on that responsibility, once you completed your training, can be a big shock to the system.
“They were all be closely supervised every step of the way to make sure the work was of high quality and that all health and safety requirements were fully met.
“However, overall it was down to them and this initiative gives them a genuine taste of what to expect early on in their working lives.”
Joiner Michael Corness added: “This is going to give each of us a sense of achievement.
“We all know that working as a team will play a big part in being able to achieve our goal.
“It is going to give us all confidence to improve our skills and give us a great experience.”
Additionally the project allowed apprentices the opportunity to experience different skills by challenging them to do works not directly associated with their chosen trade.
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Weather for Blyth
Wednesday 19 June 2013
Today
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Temperature: 9 C to 17 C
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