Jade Brasier, 21, from Hitchin in Hertfordshire is a young apprentice proving the point that these days there is no such thing as a “man’s world.” Jade is currently undertaking a two-year Brickwork NVQ Level 2 Apprenticeship course organised jointly by her employer DP Brasier Brickwork Contractors and North Hertfordshire College that started in September 2009.
Jade’s apprenticeship programme is focused on working “hands-on” on-site to help her develop a comprehensive range of key work-based skills, plus essential class work covering all aspects of her profession to support and reinforce her practical ability. The course is, in this case, fully funded by NHC, apart from the employer contribution of her wages.
Jade readily accepts that she has found her vocation in what is essentially a male dominated environment, and is the only female employee of DP Brasier ever to have worked on the building side of the business. However, she has already demonstrated to fellow employees, her father, and to customers, that she is, as colleagues report: “just as capable as any man, takes on whatever is asked of her, and receives and expects no special treatment either for being a woman or the boss’s daughter.”
She states that men rarely make things difficult for her and that customers, women in particular, respond very positively to her working on their houses.The mix of on-job work plus college based learning is, Jade reports, very satisfying and really enjoyable, with both parts of the programme combining to great effect. She is particularly enthusiastic about her “hands-on” support at college, and hopes that her presence in what essentially are male dominated skills groups will help shape the futures of other girls wishing to work in a man’s environment.
Jade is intent on developing her chosen long-term career in the construction industry, and believes that gaining a nationally recognised qualification will be an important step forward in that process. Clearly, the ambition to control you own business runs in the Brasier family: Jades medium term goal is to continue to work and progress in the family company; her ultimate objective is to take over the business when Dad retires.
Hairdressing is an industry that many classify as “feminine oriented”, but some of the most successful hairdressers are men, and James Bell, 17, of Baldock in Hertfordshire looks set to join their ranks. In September 2009 James began a two-year NVQ Level 2 Hairdressing Apprenticeship with Stone Hairdressing of Stevenage, involving three days practical work in the salon each week plus one day’s class work at North Hertfordshire College.
Stone Hairdressing is a long-established family business. Founded some 40 years ago and now run by the son of the founder, it employs 14 staff in two salons both located in Stevenage. The enterprise has a history of utilising the services of apprentices to develop a skilled and motivated team who will maintain and develop the highest levels of customer service, and it also organises a programme of in-house training.
The apprenticeship programme James is following is the result of a partnership between his employers and North Hertfordshire College. It focuses on hands-on work in the salon to help James to develop a comprehensive range of work-based skills, plus an essential element of class work involving all aspects of hairdressing and theoretical knowledge to support and reinforce his practical ability. The course is, in this case, fully funded by NHC, apart from the employer contribution of his wages.
James has earned positive feedback from his tutor at NHC, Karen Thomas, who reports: “James is already setting a benchmark for young male hairdressers, and he confidently tackles any challenge put to him.” There is considerable competition for the limited number of hairdressing apprenticeships available, and James was selected by Stone Hairdressing primarily for his enthusiasm, ambition, personal presentation and desire to learn.
For James, an apprenticeship has proved to be the ideal way of starting a career. The fact that he can earn a wage while building the foundations for a long term future has given him exactly the start he hoped for. He is already working with salon clients, assisting with their hair colouring, straightening and blow drying, and eagerly looks forward to becoming involved with the key skill of cutting. The encouragement of his employers, plus the support of his college tutors is, he says, combining to develop both his skills and his self confidence.He is already determined to progress to taking an Advanced Apprenticeship NVQ Level 3 when his current course is completed, and is eager to develop his career with Stone Hairdressing in the foreseeable future as a skilled and motivated member of the team. Both James and his employers appear to be winners all round.
Katy Johnson, 18, from Letchworth, is breaking new ground in the world of contemporary children’s care as North Hertfordshire College’s first childcare apprentice. Katy began her one-year Childcare NVQ Level 2 apprenticeship course in September 2009, working with the long-established pre-school Tiny Hands, located at Grange Community Centre in Letchworth.
The opportunity to learn on the job while being paid a wage by her employer, and not be restricted to classroom learning, had great appeal for Katy who thrives in a hands-on situation. Tiny Hands, now in its 44th year, and is part of the Grange Fellowship Community Association. It cares for some sixty children aged between two and four; this is providing Katy with work based skills and a genuine insight to the realities of her chosen profession and has already gained her positive feedback from one of her line managers, Tina Malpeli, who said: “Katy is enthusiastic and a great team member; she has a lovely nature with the children and this enables them to develop their interaction with each other.”
The Children’s Care, Learning and Development Apprenticeship framework has been created by employers to enable young people like Katy to gain the specific skills needed by this sector both now and in the future, and combines development of practical ability with theoretical knowledge to reinforce it and establish a foundation for career progression.
When Katy completes her apprenticeship course with Tiny Hands, supported by NHC, she will have built up a comprehensive range of skills and knowledge to ensure her pathway to success in her chosen career. These will include helping children to build positive relationships and develop as individuals within a safe and supportive environment; increasing her skills in children’s care, learning, play and progress; and supporting children with disabilities or special education needs.
As part of the apprenticeship programme format, Katy’s NVQ is running alongside a Technical Certificate, and her course is, in this case, funded by North Hertfordshire College, apart from the employer contribution of her apprentice’s wages. Katy’s tutor, Nadia Hodges, comments that; “After Katy’s first assessment it was clear that she has the potential and ability to achieve a far higher standard than a Level 3 Qualification. She is fantastic.” Katy is already confident of a flourishing future in her chosen career as someone dedicated to helping young people develop, who plays a valuable, respected and fulfilling role in society.
One of Hertfordshire’s longest established and most prestigious hairdressing salons, Hair by Phillip located at Stotfold, has a reputation for the pursuit of excellence. The company has been trading for some 37 years, and its owner- manager Phillip Parkin’s skills are recognised internationally. Phillip has a reputation for helping young people to gain experience and fulfil their potential in the hairdressing industry, and his latest apprentice Sinead Ryan is proving an outstanding beneficiary of this approach.
Sinead, 19, from Letchworth, began her one-year Hairdressing NVQ Level 3 advanced apprenticeship course in March 2009. This course is a partnership between North Hertfordshire College and Hair by Phillip with a programme that focuses on hands-on work in the salon developing a comprehensive range of advanced work-based skills, plus an essential element of class work and theoretical knowledge one day each week, to support and reinforce practical ability. The course is, in this case, fully funded by NHC, apart from the employer contribution of her wages.
Her employer and mentor at work Phillip Parkin, has a long-standing association with North Hertfordshire College and has taught many NHC students, including those requiring short-term on-job training and work experience according to their varying stages of development: three of which have gone on to achieve “student of the year” awards. He comments:< /br> “Sinead is not my first apprentice, and she will certainly not be my last. I am an absolute supporter of apprenticeships, which give young people an opportunity to learn on the job while being paid a wage and properly motivated.Sinead, however, is an outstanding example of how an apprenticeship can set the foundations of training and knowledge that are essential in our profession, so that people with potential can fully realise their abilities.” Phillip, who has represented Britain five times in World Championships, added, “Sinead has the ability to go all the way to the top, she is both conscientious and willing to learn; she has a great future.”
When Sinead completes her advance apprenticeship she hopes to stay with Hair by Phillip in the medium term, but her long-term ambition is to own her own salon when the time is right. She reports that the advance apprenticeship programme she is currently following is exactly right for her; providing the opportunity of working with real clients and colleagues, plus a weekly spell at college to develop knowledge and theory, and the satisfaction of being worthy of earning a wage.
Another major plus for Sinead is that she has been able to successfully participate in prestigious hairdressing competitions as part of her development programme, and in the company of her NHC tutor Karen Thomas, last year she won the 2009 World Skills Challenge for apprentices.
Both Sinead, and her mentor Phillip, are now convinced that she has a flourishing future in the challenging and creative career she has chosen.