WESTON College’s campaign to start 100 new apprenticeships in 100 days has already helped many young people find the perfect job.
This Friday marks the halfway stage of the scheme and already the college has created 62 new apprenticeships in the town.
Anna Cieslik, aged 21, started work on her apprenticeship last week at Sita - a recycling and rescource management company in Worle.
She had applied for a number of jobs, only to come a close second at interview.
This was starting to get her down, but rather than getting despondent, Anna kept in touch with the recruitment team at the college and continued to apply for more vacancies. During this time, she also did some work experience at the college to help develop her own office skills to make her a stronger candidate.
Anna, who lives in Locking Castle, said: “A few years ago I decided I wanted to be an apprentice.
“None of my previous schools had offered apprenticeships. Weston College offered me the opportunity to help with their recruitment team for more experience on my CV.
“I love my job, it is three days a week and I am just getting used to it at the moment.
“It is very hard work, but I will get my head around it I’m sure.
“Sita has welcomed me and they are very supportive, I am grateful for this opportunity.”
The latest apprenticeship figures for Weston have been labelled ‘amazing’ by Weston’s MP John Penrose and have shown the number of employers taking on apprentices is growing.
In 2010-11, 430 apprentices were employed in Weston, but by the end of 2013 the figure stood at 590 – an increase of more than a third.
John Penrose said: “This is excellent news. Initially some small businesses were worried that taking on an apprentice would mean more red tape, but now they have seen the new system is simple and easy to use.
“And Weston College has done an amazing job through schemes like their 100 in 100 programme to get things moving too.
“Everyone says skills will be crucial in the new economy, so this is a vital investment in our community’s economic future.”
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