Repair 1st gives students a taste of a trade

Published by Nicola Mileham for Stockport Homes in Local Government and also in Communities, Housing

During July Stockport Homes’ Repair 1^st Team held a ‘Taster Day’ to provide students at Werneth School and Reddish Vale Technology College with a flavour of what working in a trade involves.

The students experienced five trades: joinery, plumbing, plastering, decorating and bricklaying. They attended the Repair 1^st skills centre where they were mentored by operatives for the day. 

The students learnt skills such as:

• creating a plaster mix to the correct consistency;
• clearing a blocked sink;
• fixing a door handle and easing a door;
• making a brick mortar mix;
• building a wall; and
• hanging wallpaper. 

On completion of the day the students were presented with a certificate of achievement. They were pleased to shout about their experience and show off their certificates. Their comments from the day included: 

“It was fun and showed that plumbing can be easy but you must remember to make sure to click the pipes together so it doesn't leak.”

“Harder than it looks, very skilful.”

“Good tips.”

“Great techniques, great mentors.” 

Mark Halstead, Customer and Community Manager, Repair 1^st said, “It is great to get out into the community and provide school students with a taster of what it is like to work in a trade. Hopefully this has given them the confidence to choose what career to go into.” 

Photo caption: Repair 1^st staff and students who took part in the ‘Taster Day’. 

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Notes for editor: 

For further information please contact:
Jane Ratcliff
Marketing & Communications Manager
Stockport Homes   
Tel: 0161 474 2863