By Kelly Eve

Last updated at 13:30, Thursday, 19 November 2009

A CUMBRIAN training provider has thrown a lifeline to apprentices who have been let go by small businesses forced to make savings to survive the recession.

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Ten apprentices across north Cumbria were taken back in-house by GEN II and allowed to continue their training when their employers were faced with financial problems.

It has allowed the students to continue to develop their engineering and technology skills at a time when the number of young people unemployed is at a record high. It will ensure they are ready to take up skilled roles when the economic situation improves and employers recruit once again.

Mike Smith, managing director of GEN II, revealed the efforts being made to ensure tomorrow’s workforce remains in training today as the organisation honoured its latest top apprentices.

Two ceremonies were held recently at GEN II’s base in Kingmoor Park, Carlisle, and at Sellafield last week.

Around 200 apprentices, who have completed the first 12 months of their three and four-year courses, have been honoured across Cumbria. A third ceremony was also held in the south of the county.

Mr Smith said: “Looking back over the past 12 months, it’s been an exceptionally challenging year for the company, as it has been for many small businesses within the sector.

“During the recession we have, however, remained committed to supporting learners and employers in delivering skills which enhance the employability and provide business sustainability.

“To the extent that we have either brought back in house or replaced 10 apprentices following redundancy until further employment was gained for them.”

He added: “Despite the challenges the centre has continued to grow and in September, in partnership with Carlisle College, we started our involvement in the new 14-19 Diploma in engineering, with a cohort of 14 pupils from Carlisle’s Caldew, Newman and William Howard schools as well as the Richard Rose Academies.

“The success of the learners and the centre has only been possible through the continued support of our local employers committing to train young people to ensure we have a supply of high quality engineers.”

Carlisle’s top winner was Chris Richardson, a 17-year-old from Thursby. He is employed by Pirelli as a mechanical maintenance apprentice.

Since the Carlisle centre opened, GEN II’s apprentice numbers have grown from 32 to 46 this year. The number of companies across north Cumbria taking on its apprentices and trainees has also gone up from 13 to over 100.

More than 200 people attended the west Cumbria apprentice and higher education ceremony GEN II hosted at the Sellafield Visitors Centre. Some of their adult learners have returned to education and training after a 20-year gap.

GEN II is celebrating its 10th anniversary. Its west Cumbrian apprentices no longer train at the Sellafield centre, the 2009 intake was the first to start training at the new Energus building at Lillyhall.

All apprentices were presented with certificates but the top awards went to Maryport’s Matthew Messenger and Neil Brown, a 27-year-old apprentice from Flimby, who was named GEN II’s west Cumbria learner of the year.

Neil also won the electrical and instrumentation learner of the year award and was a joint winner of the youth community award.

Matthew was named higher education learner of the year.

KEve@cngroup.co.uk

First published at 11:38, Thursday, 19 November 2009
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk