MP Goes ‘Back To The Floor’ For National Apprenticeship Week

North West Hampshire MP Sir George Young had a taste of life as an Apprentice this week having gone ‘back to the floor’ with Business Administration Apprentices Daniel Weeks and Ellie Hamblen at Test Valley Borough Council.

Sir George rolled up his sleeves to work alongside Daniel and Ellie to celebrate the College’s first class Apprenticeship programme during National Apprenticeship Week 2015. Visitors to the offices at Beech Hurst may have been surprised to be greeted by Sir George as he manned the reception desk.

The experience gave the MP a valuable insight in apprenticeships as he followed quite a different education and training path to his political career, commenting: “I’ve had a very interesting time at Beech Hurst, headquarters of Test Valley Borough Council meeting a number of Apprentices and I have been enormously impressed with how an Apprenticeship leads to a good job, with a good employer.”

Daniel and Ellie are studying a Level 2 Business Administration Apprenticeship with Test Valley Borough Council. The course will provide them with skills needed to progress in a business support role covering areas such as administration, communication, providing reception services and IT skills.

Commenting on the programme Ellie said: “I chose to do an Apprenticeship and go straight into work as it provided me with more experience, especially working for Test Valley Borough Council. There are many opportunities for progression working with the Council and lots of departments I can gain valuable experience in. I would recommend an Apprenticeship as it gives you good practical skills and you get paid to learn.”