You’re hired!

Published by Max Salsbury for 24dash.com in Communities and also in Education, Housing

Riverside, is helping people back to work, setting up apprenticeships for Greater Manchester youngsters with their repairs and maintenance partner, Evolve.

Five apprentices, aged 16-24, from Langley and surrounding areas, are learning skills to become joiners, plumbers, electricians and an office administrator.

Around 60 youngsters applied for the three-year apprenticeships, completing tests approved by CITB, the construction industry body. 

Former Langley junior warden and mentor, Thomas Shepherdson, is continuing his longstanding relationship with Riverside to take up an apprenticeship in joinery.  The 18-year old became a junior warden at eight years old.  And was a member of the youth group that is the eyes and ears of the estate for eight years.  At age 13 he went on to become a mentor, passing on his skills to younger wardens.

Now Thomas is enjoying his new role, which will lead to a profession in the construction industry.

Thomas said:  “I’ve always wanted to be a joiner.  Looking back through my family they are all either joiners or stonemasons, so it must be in my blood.”

As part of the apprenticeship scheme Riverside is paying for ten driving lessons on the proviso that apprentices pay for a further ten lessons.

Phil McNabb is training and employment officer for Riverside.  He said:  “We want to provide a real-life working experience for the apprentices, which includes travelling away from Langley.  That’s why we’ve arranged their study option outside their locality at Skills Solutions in Trafford.  And we’re encouraging them to drive to broaden their experience further.”