Matt Warman MP with the Rev Steven Holt and representatives from Boston College and Lincolnshire Co-op, with Apprentices volunteering at Blenkin Memorial Hall
Matt Warman MP has visited the Blenkin Memorial Hall today to mark the end of National Apprenticeship week, meeting with a group of apprentices volunteering in the community. The apprentices, from Boston College and Lincolnshire Co-op, have been participating in a community project to repaint the doors and windows on Blenkin Hall at the Stump.
Matt said: “I was delighted to take the opportunity to meet some of the 4,740 apprentices we have had in Boston and Skegness since 2010. The opportunity to earn and learn, supported by the Government’s commitment to establish an independent, employer led, Institute for Apprenticeships to regulate the quality of apprenticeships in England, is an attractive alternative route for young people to gain skills and enter the workplace”.
One of Lincolnshire Co-op’s Apprentices who studies at Boston College, Liam Sperrin, took part in the volunteering project – he said, “Lincs Co-op always let us know about different volunteering projects we can get involved in, so being an Apprentice myself, I felt this would be a great project to get involved in to help support Apprenticeship Awareness. I’ve really enjoyed working with the rest of the team to paint the exterior of the hall – it’s nice to know we’ve played a part in restoring such a nice building.”
Associate Rector of the Parish of Boston, Reverend Steve Holt was extremely pleased with the work that the Apprentices had done. He said, “Blenkin Hall is a building that everyone knows in Boston and it is great to see keen volunteers working so hard to lovingly restore a building that means a lot to local people. It is really encouraging to see such good community spirit.”
Boston College and Lincolnshire Co-op work together on the Society’s apprenticeship scheme, which sees people undertake apprenticeships in retail, travel, pharmacy and now post offices. The two organisations co-ordinated this volunteering project to highlight National Apprenticeship Week.
Lincolnshire Co-op’s Head of People and Performance Heather Lee said: “We believe that apprenticeships are a way of attracting talented and enthusiastic people to come and work for Lincolnshire Co-op. Our apprenticeships give young people who want to develop their skills the chance to earn a good wage while they learn and in lots of cases we are able to provide career opportunities at the end of their training.”
Boston College has run a series of information events during the week on apprenticeships, aiming to highlight both to prospective candidates and employers the benefits of modern apprenticeships.
Boston College’s Director of Business Development Paul Collins said, “Boston College has supported thousands of apprentices over its 50+ years of operation. We view them as an essential part of our strategy to support the skills, needs and aspirations of employers.” He added, “An Apprenticeship can support people of all ages when starting a new job but of course are particularly relevant for young people when entering the world of work for the first time.”
“I was delighted to take the opportunity to meet some of the 4,740 apprentices we have had in Boston and Skegness since 2010. The opportunity to earn and learn, supported by the Government’s commitment to establish an independent, employer led, Institute for Apprenticeships to regulate the quality of apprenticeships in England, is an attractive alternative route for young people to gain skills and enter the workplace”