Like father, like son
Mar 6, 2015
It’s National Apprenticeship Week this week and as usual we are celebrating our commitment to training young people with a variety of initiatives including talking to our youngest apprentice, 16 year old Josh Rose about his experiences.
Josh lives in New Moston and attended Oasis Academy, Oldham where he left with five grade B GCSEs. Despite his academic success however, he didn’t want to go to college and instead decided to follow in his dad’s footstep to become a joiner.
“I knew I wanted to be a joiner when I was ten,” said Josh. “My dad would sometimes take me to work with him and I really enjoyed watching him.”
And Josh has not only followed in his dad’s career footsteps but also in his training footsteps because dad Jonathan also learned his trade as an apprentice with Emanuel Whittaker!
“The company came to our school to talk to us about apprenticeships,” said Jonathan, “and a week after leaving school I started with them. I was 15 when I started my City and Guilds in joinery.”
In fact Jonathan liked Emanuel Whittaker so much he remained with the company for 16 years. He was keen that Josh try to get an apprenticeship with the company he believes can’t be beaten when it comes to training.
He adds: “My time with Emanuel Whittaker was fabulous and I look back with great fondness. The company had a reputation then for being one of the best places to do an apprenticeship and that reputation is just as deserved today. I was thrilled when Josh got a place.”
Josh is currently learning his craft on a project with First Choice Homes Oldham where he works with an expert team installing new kitchens.
“I am a hands on type of person and so a full time college course didn’t really appeal to me,” said Josh. “I am getting so many different experiences working in the real world which I think is important. It’s lovely to see how the tenants, the customers, appreciate their new kitchens and I am working with a great team who have made me feel very welcome.”
Josh goes to Oldham College every Monday to fulfil the theoretical side of his apprenticeship and develop his new skills. He hopes to have a basic carpentry and joiner qualification in two years and then may decide to take advanced skills.
“I think apprenticeships are a great idea,” said Josh. “I am being paid to learn and I am mixing with lots of different people, colleagues and customers. I am learning a useful skill and I am confident that I will get a full time job when I have finished.”
Government figures show that 90% of apprentices stay in employment after finishing their apprenticeship and 83% said their ability to do the job and their career prospects had improved. Emanuel Whittaker is proud of the fact that the majority of its apprentices are employed full time either in house or with one of our approved sub-contractor partners.
Last year, Emanuel Whittaker made The Top 100 Apprenticeship Employers List which is compiled annually by the National Apprenticeship Service in partnership with City & Guilds. It recognises excellence in those businesses that employ apprentices and that can prove an exceptional contribution to apprenticeships. We will continue our commitment to training young people for many years to come.
To find out more about the benefits of apprenticeships go to www.apprenticeships.gov.uk
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