A course supported by the ‘No One Left Behind Fund’ – and run in Scotland for the first time - has led to jobs for half of the ten students who took part.
Forth Valley College secured support from the Fund in January to run the Engineering Constructing Industry Training Board (ECITB) ‘Work Ready - Trainee Maintenance Operative’ course which ran for 16 weeks, until Friday 23 May.
And now five of the students who completed the course have already secured employment with Altrad, UK, Ireland & Nordics – an international leader in the provision of industrial services.
The programme covered six units in the PEO Level 2 course including Health and Safety, Pipework, Welding and Handfitting and covering training in Manual Handling, Confined Space, Working with Hand Tools, Working at Height, Abrasive Wheel and CCNSG Safety Passport.
This is the first time this programme has been delivered in Scotland, although it has been successful in England with positive outcomes. The criteria stipulated that the course had to take unemployed people from the Stirling postcode area and the College worked with DWP Stirling to promote through the Job Centre, with Work Coaches holding various information sessions and interviews.
Altrad UK, Ireland & Nordics have now employed five of the learners who were successful in completing the programme and they will work across various sites in Scotland as Trainee Maintenance Operatives.
They will now follow Altrad’s TMO Programme Career Pathway, and over the next year to 18 months they will become a Trade Assist Mate. There is also the option for them to upskill to do Adult Apprenticeships and become fully qualified Platers, Pipe Fitters, Riggers or Welders.
Nicola Hoggitt, FVC Apprenticeship Officer, said “I am delighted for the five individuals who have successfully completed the programme. When they started they had very little knowledge of the Engineering Construction Industry and some felt a bit out of their depth, but with the support of our fantastic lecturing staff, they have excelled and proved that with hard work and enthusiasm they can achieve anything. I am really excited for their future careers with Altrad UK, Ireland & Nordics and wish them all the very best.”
The students are pictured here with Douglas MacCalman, Operations Manager, Altrad UK, Ireland & Nordics, Caroline Hogg, Head of Apprenticeships, Forth Valley College, Nicola Hoggitt, FVC Apprenticeship Officer, Alasdair Will, Lecturer, Forth Valley College, Robert McGuinness, Lecturer, Forth Valley College, Richard Reid, Curriculum Manager, Forth Valley College and Paul Hynd, Relationship Manager, ECITB.
