Truro and Penwith College Lead by Example with Apprentice

Truro and Penwith College are leading by example and have taken on a new Apprentice as part of the National Apprenticeship Service’s Golden Hello Scheme. 17 year old Tasha Kneebone has joined the College’s Business Centre as a Marketing Apprentice and will use her own personal experience to promote Apprenticeships to other young people in Cornwall. After leaving College Tasha wanted to find a job that would pay her a wage and help her gain new qualifications and experience. Tasha commented “The Apprenticeship at Truro College was just what I was looking for and I can’t wait to gain experience and qualifications whilst getting paid!”

Tasha’s work at the College will include organising business and celebration events, creating publicity materials, and promoting Apprenticeships to other young people. As part of the Apprenticeship scheme Tasha receives a weekly wage and will complete a Customer Service Apprenticeship, Events VRQ, and Manual Handling Certificate. Tasha will also attend a number of the College’s Business Skills Seminars to boost her skills in areas such as Event Management, E-Marketing, Copy Writing, PR Skills, Reception Skills and many others.

Tasha was one of the 400 young people in the South West who were helped into work by the National Apprenticeship Service. The AGE 16 and 17 scheme provided grants with a value of £2,500 to encourage employers to take on unemployed 16-17 year olds as apprentices before the end of March 2010. Sue Lovell, Business Centre Manager at the College comments “We are thrilled that Tasha has joined us and are proud to have an Apprentice in our organisation. Apprentices are good for business, bringing new ideas and a fresh outlook and they are also a great opportunity for young people to kick-start their careers.”

Truro and Penwith College have also helped a number of other local businesses find suitable Apprentices . The College has helped place Apprentices with Society Hairdressers, Ronnie’s Hair and Beauty, Simply Accounts, Hair and Nail Studio, The Barn Nursery, Continental Underfloor Heating and the Financial Advice Centre. Even though the Golden Hello grants have now finished the College still can help find Apprentices for local businesses and provide a fully funded Apprenticeship training programme. Businesses looking to take on an Apprentice should contact the College’s Apprenticeship Adviser on 01872 242711 or email businesscentre@truro-penwith.ac.uk.