Award for Walsall Housing Group Skills Centre apprentice

An apprentice carpenter who perfected his trade at Walsall Housing Group’s (whg) Skills Centre has won a prestigious award.

Jack Carey, 19, has been named Apprentice of the Year by Stourbridge-based construction company, Mansell Construction Services.

Carey who is from Stourbridge, attended the whg Skills Centre, in Hollemeadow Avenue, between 2007 and 2009 to study an NVQ Level 2 in carpentry and joinery.

Jeremy Lydiatt, of Mansell, said: “We would like to thank whg colleagues for supporting Jack and other Mansell apprentices in achieving the highest levels of achievement. Jack is now proceeding well with his NVQ Level 3 qualification.”

At the whg Skills Centre, in Hollemeadow Avenue, Leamore, 91 learners are currently enrolled on courses to gain industry qualifications.

The £1.4million centre delivers a wider range of pre-employment, vocational, and apprenticeship-based courses in association with local employers from across the West Midlands. The courses provided cover a wide range of skills including carpentry, electrical, plumbing and bricklaying which are taught to nationally-recognised standards.

The centre was officially opened in December 2008 by Chief Executive of the National Housing Federation, David Orr. It includes dedicated teaching workshops for trades, and an IT suite and training room.

The government launched National Apprenticeship Week on Monday 1February to celebrate employers’ commitment to recruit apprentices and to urge people to consider the benefits to their skills and career of becoming an apprentice. It focuses on raising the profile of apprenticeships amongst employers, learners, parents, stakeholders and the media across the country.

Jane Preece, director of organisational development at whg, said: “We would like to congratulate Jack on being named Mansell’s Apprentice of the Year 2009, a title which is testament to the effort he displayed while at our Skills Centre.

“National Apprenticeships Week provides a fantastic opportunity to turn the spotlight on the young learners who are working hard at our Skills Centre and to celebrate the things they are achieving. We are extremely proud of the apprentices that the centre continues to support year upon year,” she added.

Pictured: Apprentice of the Year Jack Carey with colleague Ben Shakespeare.