Last week, Channel 4 News was in town filming some of First Choice Homes Oldham’s (FCHO) apprentices for a feature about GCSE results day.
Trainee joiners Angelise Johnston, 17, and Devon Laithwaite-Adair, 18, along with recently qualified electrician Jordan Kemp, 25, all talked about why they have taken the apprenticeship path rather than A Levels.
The group were filmed at an empty property in Greenacres as FCHO looks to more than double the number of its apprentices by 2027.
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Angelise told the reporter she is a first-year apprentice and did not want to go to college after leaving school, explaining that she wanted a hands-on role following some voluntary experience at a community centre doing maintenance work.
Meanwhile, Devon started A Levels studying medical science, PE and psychology to become a physio before he realised it was not for him and he applied to FCHO.
He said: “I was fortunate to get a place and since I’ve started, I’ve had lots of support and been helped by my mentors.”
From left to right: Devon Laithwaite-Adair, Jordan Kemp, Angelise Johnston (Image: FCHO)
Jordan told the film crew he had always liked fixing things and because he also liked maths, becoming an electrician felt like the best option.
He said: “I have finished my apprenticeship and now secured a full-time role with FCHO.
“I have become a lot more confident and developed my people skills, as I’m working in customer’s houses daily, so you must learn to speak to people and have conversations.”
FCHO multi-skilled joiner and apprentice mentor Chris Duxbury told Channel 4: “We’ve got a skills shortage, and we need to safeguard trades by attracting people to the sector, where they can earn good money and develop valuable life skills.”
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Mark Gifford, chief executive at FCHO, said: “It was exciting having Channel 4 with us and a real confidence boost for our apprentices, our colleagues and FCHO to have highlighted in this way the good work we are achieving with our apprenticeship programme.
“We need to skill local people in the important trades needed to build the homes the area is desperate for. That’s why we are going to at least double our apprentice numbers by 2027 to 22 – a target we expect to beat.
“I also echo what Chris said. We must recognise there is a skills shortage in construction and we are working hard to fill it in partnership with Oldham College while also offering real quality choices for young people who do not want to go down the academic path and the debt it might entail.”
The footage was aired on Channel 4 News on GCSE results day (Thursday, August 21).