Four apprentices have all successfully completed JN Bentley’s in-house Apprenticeship Scheme after two years of training with the company.
Apprentices Kris Barker, Tom Guilfoyle, Jack Harrison and Ben Wilson’s success was recognised at a presentation evening held at JN Bentley’s Head Office in Skipton, North Yorkshire.
During the evening, Jack Harrison was also presented with the JN Bentley ‘Overall Apprentice Award’ after fighting off tough competition from his fellow apprentices to pick up his prize and a £250 gift voucher.
Jack was praised by his colleagues for the impressive way he has developed “into a safe and confident site worker” and for being “someone who takes an interest” in the work he is doing.
JN Bentley launched its first 100% in-house Apprenticeship Scheme in 2010 as an innovative response to a large number of applications – primarily from family members of existing employees – who were keen to explore the opportunities that exist within the business.
Being designed 100% in-house, JN Bentley has tailored the course to teach disciplines that are aligned with the business’ core competencies in construction and civil engineering.
The four apprentices have been led through the programme by qualified JN Bentley Trainers Ronnie Bray and Richard Moon, and mentored by six JN Bentley site-staff with over fifty years of “JN Bentley” experience between them; mentor Graham Hunn is even a former JN Bentley apprentice himself.
JN Bentley worked with Skipton-based Craven College, who oversaw the course, and provided some additional monitoring and training where required.
At the presentation evening, Ronnie paid tribute to all of the apprentices, saying, “It has been excellent to work with a group of apprentices that look forward to coming to work, and are keen to get on and learn.
“It was been very pleasing watching them develop their skills over the last two years. And it has helped us, as trainers, further develop our own skills and experience too, which will definitely help us design the course for the new guys that start in September.”
The apprentices completed their course with a ‘Level 2 QCF Diploma in Construction Operations and General Construction’ – as well as gaining valuable tickets and experience directly relevant to the construction and civil engineering working at JN Bentley.
JN Bentley Director Jon Cain commented, “The Apprentices have really gelled as a team and set extremely high standards – there is no better illustration of this than the bandstand they chose to construct during their course.”
The company is extending its Apprenticeship Scheme in 2012, with nine new apprentices joining the company later in the year.
The new apprentices will be based across the country – five working from Head Office in Skipton, two from our base in the North East in Durham, and two from the company’s West Midland’s office in Shifnal.
For more information, please see our Apprentices page.