A NEW skills programme aims to develop new young talent to work in the
utilitiy sector.
Milton Keynes College is working with Anglian Water and its 12 Alliance
partners to create a multi-skill construction course that has the full backing
of employers.
The pre-apprenticeship programme aims to train students to ultimately work
for one of the Alliance companies as apprentices. Most of the course will take
place at Milton Keynes College but industry specialists from the Alliances will
sponsor the programme with specialist plant, materials, work experience and
lectures
The course begins in September and will also include work placement with
one or more of the Alliance’s partner companies. Students who pass the sponsored Level 2 Anglian Water
Alliances Construction Programme will be guaranteed an interview for an
apprenticeship with Anglian Water Alliances.
The college’s head of construction
Lee Mills said the course is a “fantastic” opportunity for sstudents of all
ages consnidering a career in construction. “They will experience and develop a
number of skills throughout the year so they can make an informed decision
about their future pathway. A guaranteed interview for an apprenticeship after
qualification is a very unique and valuable opportunity to develop their career
further ‘on the job’.”
Milton Keynes College is one of
three selected as part of the programme, alongside Grimsby Institute and West
Suffolk College. The initiative has already been piloted successfully through
the College of West Anglia at Wisbech and now Anglian Water is dedicated to
creating more employment opportunities in other parts of the region.
Anglian Water Alliances
collaborative skills manager Dave Newsome said: “We are focused on building
partnerships that will create opportunities for training learners with the
vital skills and behaviours needed to meet industry skills shortages. We were
impressed by the College’s existing provision, their academic teams and ‘can-do’
approach to working with employers.
“We do not want to sponsor a
programme by simply putting our name to it – we want to be in there working
side by side with our chosen providers. Together we will tackle some of the
great challenges facing the water industry by teaching and educating future
leaders in the field.”
