Senior managers at the College of West Anglia left their desks to visit students and companies during Apprenticeship Week.
Taking part were Arlene Clark, Executive Director for Curriculum and Learning; Stephen Jones, Executive Director Finance and Resources; Hilary Auld, Head of Faculty for Foundation, Engagement and the Arts; and Andrew Gedge, Head of Faculty, Faculty of Sport, Public and Caring Services and Public Services. This is the second year that the College of West Anglia has organised its Back To The Floor event, which proved beneficial to the employers involved, the apprentices and senior managers.
First away from her desk on Tuesday was Arlene Clark who visited R.J Herbert, which employs 150 people at its rural location in Middle Drove, between King’s Lynn and Wisbech.
There she was given an insight by fabrications manager Nigel Clayton into its multi-million manufacturing and design operations which see its bespoke products go around the world, from farms to airports.
Currently the company has two apprentices George and Ben and Arlene was shown some of their training.
This included two different forms of welding, under the watchful eye of Kristen, who has supported the apprentices.
Arlene, kitted in protective headwear, said: “It is more difficult than it looks. The people who do this are obviously very skilled.
“I was Impressed by the value added to the company by the apprentices. Sadly I will be unable to take up welding as a career change due to not being very good at it.”
The company specialises in the world-class design and manufacturer of vegetable processing, grading, handling and packing systems. It also makes baggage handling systems for airports.
While she was there Arlene saw baggage handling equipment, which later in the year will be used at Gatwick.
Stephen Jones got a rare chance to see what happens behind the scenes of a top restaurant when he visited the Market Bistro in King’s Lynn, which has been run for five years now by Richard and Lucy Golding who are keen supporters of the apprenticeship scheme.
His morning at Market Bistro kept Stephen busy and he learned a lot. He said: “I had a great morning at the Market Bistro meeting their two apprentices Daisy, front of house, and Jacob.
“I spent most of my time helping prepare food in the kitchen and I learned a new way to peel boiled eggs and a technique to help improve burgers made from scratch. I also recognised despite broadly improving economic conditions that running a business in the hospitality industry is really hard work requiring innovation and top notch customer service if you are to remain successful.
“The apprentices genuinely seem to enjoy their roles and the apprenticeship scheme as a way of learning and I think it is such a practical and great way to learn – effectively ensuring formalised learning on the job.
“There is great support from college staff in what is a mutually beneficial situation for both the employer and the apprentice.”
Andrew Gedge had a superb visit to King’s Lynn Golf Club.
He said: ““What a day to be on the golf course!
While I would have loved to have been winding my way around King’s Lynn Golf Club as a player, the skill and dedication of the ground staff were far more impressive than anything I could have managed!
“I shadowed our apprentice, Tim, for two hours on a glorious Friday afternoon. The knowledge I gained around protocols around golfers, daily routines for the staff and the sheer dedication of Tim and his colleagues on a day-by-day basis I am sure is not known among the playing fraternity.
“I was stunned to listen to the activity that has taken place over the winter period in re-engineering parts of the course as well as responding to some mindless vandalism that has hit key playing parts and which now look glorious in the sunshine.
“I would like to thank Tim for his time in showing me the ropes and for truly demonstrating the value of the apprenticeship scheme in developing skills for the workplace.
“I would also like to thank Colin Robinson (course manager) for the opportunity to shadow Tim and most importantly for supporting apprenticeships.”
Colin said he really liked to help get young people started. The club’s previous apprentice, Matthew, had now obtained full;-time employment at Hunstanton Golf Club.
In Wisbech Hilary Auld was welcomed by proprietor Paul Davies, who runs the Top To Toe hair salon with wife Sarah, and a large team.
The salon attracts clients from far and wide, even from Swaffham, and appreciates the value of supporting apprentices.
Currently on the books are Jade and Mallory, who was a winner in the College of West Anglia apprenticeship awards.
Hilary was kept busy at the salon. She said: “I had a very enjoyable day working with the team from Top To Toe in. I was warmly welcomed into the team and given some great training and advice from Max, 18, from Spalding,
a previous apprentice.
“After a full tour of the facilities and a health and safety briefing,
I learned how to give a hand massage and then a shoulder and head massage, two of the holistic aspects used in the salon to complement their hairdressing services.
“I was shown how to undertake each task, then practiced on my coach before finally working on 'live' clients. The owner Paul Davies is a believer in the show one, do one, teach one approach and he often has his staff and apprentices demonstrating techniques to others to help them progress their own skills.
I then went on to apply a full head of colour, but this time not on a client I am glad to say.
Max took me through the whole process and helped me every step of the way.
“ I was quite pleased with my results, not perfect, but a really interesting experience. I learned a great deal and was impressed with the whole salon as a learning environment. I was also invited back to visit the salon on a training night, so that future apprentices could practice on me!”
The aim of the visits is for senior managers at the college to get a view of the apprenticeship programme and support from the apprentices' and employers' viewpoints.
The purpose of spending time on the front line is to engage with apprentices and employers, to listen to them and to their experience.
Senior managers at the College of West Anglia left their desks to visit students and companies during Apprenticeship Week.
Taking part were Arlene Clark, Executive Director for Curriculum and Learning; Stephen Jones, Executive Director Finance and Resources; Hilary Auld, Head of Faculty for Foundation, Engagement and the Arts; and Andrew Gedge, Head of Faculty, Faculty of Sport, Public and Caring Services and Public Services. This is the second year that the College of West Anglia has organised its Back To The Floor event, which proved beneficial to the employers involved, the apprentices and senior managers.
First away from her desk on Tuesday was Arlene Clark who visited R.J Herbert, which employs 150 people at its rural location in Middle Drove, between King’s Lynn and Wisbech.
There she was given an insight by fabrications manager Nigel Clayton into its multi-million manufacturing and design operations which see its bespoke products go around the world, from farms to airports.
Currently the company has two apprentices George and Ben and Arlene was shown some of their training.
This included two different forms of welding, under the watchful eye of Kristen, who has supported the apprentices.
Arlene, kitted in protective headwear, said: “It is more difficult than it looks. The people who do this are obviously very skilled.
“I was Impressed by the value added to the company by the apprentices. Sadly I will be unable to take up welding as a career change due to not being very good at it.”
The company specialises in the world-class design and manufacturer of vegetable processing, grading, handling and packing systems. It also makes baggage handling systems for airports.
While she was there Arlene saw baggage handling equipment, which later in the year will be used at Gatwick.
Stephen Jones got a rare chance to see what happens behind the scenes of a top restaurant when he visited the Market Bistro in King’s Lynn, which has been run for five years now by Richard and Lucy Golding who are keen supporters of the apprenticeship scheme.
His morning at Market Bistro kept Stephen busy and he learned a lot. He said: “I had a great morning at the Market Bistro meeting their two apprentices Daisy, front of house, and Jacob.
“I spent most of my time helping prepare food in the kitchen and I learned a new way to peel boiled eggs and a technique to help improve burgers made from scratch. I also recognised despite broadly improving economic conditions that running a business in the hospitality industry is really hard work requiring innovation and top notch customer service if you are to remain successful.
“The apprentices genuinely seem to enjoy their roles and the apprenticeship scheme as a way of learning and I think it is such a practical and great way to learn – effectively ensuring formalised learning on the job.
“There is great support from college staff in what is a mutually beneficial situation for both the employer and the apprentice.”
Andrew Gedge had a superb visit to King’s Lynn Golf Club.
He said: ““What a day to be on the golf course!
While I would have loved to have been winding my way around King’s Lynn Golf Club as a player, the skill and dedication of the ground staff were far more impressive than anything I could have managed!
“I shadowed our apprentice, Tim, for two hours on a glorious Friday afternoon. The knowledge I gained around protocols around golfers, daily routines for the staff and the sheer dedication of Tim and his colleagues on a day-by-day basis I am sure is not known among the playing fraternity.
“I was stunned to listen to the activity that has taken place over the winter period in re-engineering parts of the course as well as responding to some mindless vandalism that has hit key playing parts and which now look glorious in the sunshine.
“I would like to thank Tim for his time in showing me the ropes and for truly demonstrating the value of the apprenticeship scheme in developing skills for the workplace.
“I would also like to thank Colin Robinson (course manager) for the opportunity to shadow Tim and most importantly for supporting apprenticeships.”
Colin said he really liked to help get young people started. The club’s previous apprentice, Matthew, had now obtained full;-time employment at Hunstanton Golf Club.
In Wisbech Hilary Auld was welcomed by proprietor Paul Davies, who runs the Top To Toe hair salon with wife Sarah, and a large team.
The salon attracts clients from far and wide, even from Swaffham, and appreciates the value of supporting apprentices.
Currently on the books are Jade and Mallory, who was a winner in the College of West Anglia apprenticeship awards.
Hilary was kept busy at the salon. She said: “I had a very enjoyable day working with the team from Top To Toe in. I was warmly welcomed into the team and given some great training and advice from Max, 18, from Spalding, a previous apprentice.
“After a full tour of the facilities and a health and safety briefing, I learned how to give a hand massage and then a shoulder and head massage, two of the holistic aspects used in the salon to complement their hairdressing services.
“I was shown how to undertake each task, then practiced on my coach before finally working on 'live' clients. The owner Paul Davies is a believer in the show one, do one, teach one approach and he often has his staff and apprentices demonstrating techniques to others to help them progress their own skills.
I then went on to apply a full head of colour, but this time not on a client I am glad to say. Max took me through the whole process and helped me every step of the way.
“ I was quite pleased with my results, not perfect, but a really interesting experience. I learned a great deal and was impressed with the whole salon as a learning environment. I was also invited back to visit the salon on a training night, so that future apprentices could practice on me!”
The aim of the visits is for senior managers at the college to get a view of the apprenticeship programme and support from the apprentices' and employers' viewpoints.
The purpose of spending time on the front line is to engage with apprentices and employers, to listen to them and to their experience.