GENERATING OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE AT BRITISH GYPSUM
Posted by: electime 5th March 2018
As employers across the country celebrate National Apprenticeships Week (5th – 9th March), British Gypsum’s electrical and mechanical engineering apprentices are now reaping the benefits of a new training area at its Barrow-upon-Soar facility, designed to offer them a real-life setting in which to hone their skills.
In addition, British Gypsum, which is part of the Saint-Gobain group, has worked closely with a partner college to improve the way the courses are delivered, placing a much stronger emphasis on hands-on work experience. According to the company, this combination of study and on-the-job training has delivered a rapid improvement in student performance, with the college now looking to replicate the learning environment with other businesses.
As well as its proactive apprenticeship scheme, British Gypsum is also committed to developing the careers of its staff. And it’s this combined approach that kick-started the implementation of the new apprenticeships approach.
Electrical section Leader, Ryan Black, is responsible for incoming apprentices and as part of his career development was tasked with driving forward a new apprentice format, supported by colleague Ian Daft, also an electrical section leader and experienced apprentice mentor.
The biggest change that Ryan and Ian have introduced is to rearrange the apprentices’ working patterns, so that they attend college for two days a week and are on site with British Gypsum for three days. Previously, the apprentices attended college full time for the first year and only visited the business at half term.
Explaining the reasoning behind the change, Ian commented: “When the students came to us before, they were still in school mode so it would take us time to get them up to speed. This way, they are our employees and part of the team from day one.
“It’s hands-on and gives our apprentices a ‘step up’. The British Gypsum apprentices are taking the lead at college and completing assignments far quicker than their peers – so much so that the college is looking at what we’ve developed here, with a view to replicating it elsewhere.”
As a result, the students have integrated with the workforce really well, says Ryan: “We’ve found that they’re happier to go and ask questions of colleagues if they need to, which helps make them feel really embedded into the workforce. Also, the equipment in the new electrical and mechanical section is the same as that out on the plant, so it’s a safe environment for them to practice and learn.”
Having delivered over 500,000 days of training since 1966 when the company’s first training academy opened, training activity has continued to go from strength to strength at British Gypsum. Today, the company works with a huge range of construction workers, from apprentices starting out in their careers, to experienced plasterers, dry liners and contractors looking to gain further qualifications.
Watch the video at http://www.british-gypsum.com/about-us/careers/why-british-gypsum/ryan-and-ian to find out more about the new British Gypsum apprentice area.
