Praise for ‘life-changing’ Cheshire East apprenticeship scheme

February 6, 2012

A star apprentice has spoken about how joining Cheshire East Council’s A-Team scheme has changed his life.

This week is National Apprenticeship Week (February 6-10) and 21-year-old Kai Brereton, from Crewe, has heaped praise on the award-winning scheme, which aims to help tackle youth unemployment in the borough’s 16-24 year old age group.

The A-Team gives young people both practical experience and a chance to study for nationally-recognised qualifications.

With more than a million young people now out of work in the United Kingdom, Kai’s story is a timely reminder of what can be achieved.

After a year and a half claiming benefits while living with his mum and two younger siblings, the then teenager began to sink deeper into depression about being jobless. He’d been bullied at school, largely on account of his weight and clever academic ability.

“One day I just snapped in school,” he said. “I’d had my head slammed against a wall by a bully once too often. It was a build-up of so much frustration and anger, I just let rip at everyone.”

Kai was offered counselling, which he says went some way towards helping him. But by the time he left school, his self-confidence was at an all-time low.

Job hunting didn’t go well as employers were unable to see beyond the shy teenager who showed academic promise but no self belief and no past record of practical skills.

But his break came when he was taken on by Cheshire East Council as an A-Team apprentice. And this Wednesday (February 8), Kai will share his inspirational story with 35 Cheshire East employees.

He applied to the Prince’s Trust to join a 12-week self-development course before being referred to Cheshire East Council’s housing team to train as an assistant housing advisor under the A-Team programme.

He said: “It was a huge opportunity to finally prove my worth. Every task I was given, I just tore through it; there was no stopping me.

“My confidence began to improve as the positive feedback came in and instead of a cycle of self-doubt and failure, it was a cycle of confidence and achievement.”

In his first year as an A-Team apprentice, Kai earned almost £5,500. Now in his second year, his wage has increased to £11,000. He works a standard 37-hour week, but more often than not he puts in overtime during busy periods.

He said: “The work is very interesting and at the end of the day I feel incredibly fulfilled that I’ve helped people who are vulnerable. It’s my ambition to become a manager.”

Last year, Kai was crowned ‘A-Team Apprentice of the Year’ by Cheshire East Council to honour his hard work and devotion and he is also an A-Team ambassador.

CEC’s A-Team Apprenticeship Scheme

Cheshire East Council’s A-Team has given more than 80 young people the opportunity to work within various council services since it began in 2010.

The Council collaborates with other local agencies such as Cheshire Fire and Rescue, local MPs and Wulvern Housing.

The scheme has been recognised as an outstanding apprenticeship programme in the UK and the team is now consulted by other local authorities across the country on how to run successful apprenticeships.

Erika Wenzel, Chief Executive of Cheshire East Council, said: “We are determined to grow our own young talent. We will continue to do all we can to encourage young people to discover what they can achieve via an apprenticeship, whether it is with local government or any local industry or organisation.”

Councillor Peter Mason, cabinet member for procurement and shared services, added: “Our overarching philosophy is ‘inspiring apprenticeships’ – to try and get as many people and organisations involved in our scheme and apprenticeships as a whole.”

National Apprenticeship Week

• National Apprenticeship Week runs from February 6 – 10. Apprentices are employees who earn a wage and work alongside experienced staff in businesses to gain job-specific skills
• Off the job, usually on a day release basis, apprentices receive training to work towards nationally recognised qualifications.
•  Apprenticeships can take between one and four years to complete depending on the level of apprenticeship, the apprentices' ability and the industry sector.
• There are more than 85,000 employers offering apprenticeships in England in 130,000 locations, and in 200 job roles.

For more information on the A-Team scheme, call senior organisational development officer Ben Whitter on 01270 686662.