Chatwins Staff alongside Training Adviser Vicki Davies of Total People

The Learners

Leanne Foden, Helen Hadaway and Sandra Bowyer are the latest members of Chatwins’ workforce to achieve a work based qualification with Total People.

Leanne, a former Ruskin High School pupil has been working as a Sales Assistant at the Pepper Street outlet in Nantwich for almost two years and has completed her Retail Apprenticeship in 12 months.

“It’s been really beneficial,” explains Leanne. “I have built up my knowledge of the organisation and as part of my qualification I have prepared window displays, conducted stock takes and I’m regularly involved in the baking of our products.”

Sandra Bowyer, a Sales Assistant at Chatwins on Victoria Street in Crewe faced her fears by starting her Apprenticeship in Hospitality.

“I’m so glad I did it,” says Sandra. “At first I was daunted by the fact that the programme included Maths and English tests because it had been so long since I had done anything like that. However I feel that’s really helped me to progress and now I feel I am much more confident and I have the qualification to prove it!”

Helen Hadaway left Tarporley High School and immediately started with Chatwins. She was keen to add to her GCSE’s and opted for the work based route.

“I really enjoy practical activities so my Apprenticeship has enabled me to learn as I go along and now I have a qualification to demonstrate my skills and knowledge,” says Helen.

Continued Recognition for Staff

Company Chairmen Edward Chatwin, continues to speak highly of work based qualifications.

“We have been working with Total People for many years and our staff gain so much from doing an Apprenticeship. Many of them continue to prove it doesn’t matter how old you are as long as you have the desire and determination to succeed.”

“Many of them continue to prove it doesn’t matter how old you are as long as you have the desire and determination to succeed.”

- Edward Chatwin, Chairman

Chatwins, a family run bakers is now owned and managed by its’ fourth generation. They have 19 shops situated across Cheshire and Staffordshire and have been using Total People as their preferred choice of training provider for a number of years with many of their staff achieving both NVQ’s and Apprenticeships.

The Grosvenor Pulford Hotel & Spa located on the outskirts of Chester has been using Total People to deliver Hospitality qualifications for a number of years and have recently commenced training workshops for their new recruits.

Nick Jones, Ben Fields and Todd Lowdnes alongside Executive Chef Leigh Myers

Executive Head Chef Leigh Myers introduced the academy and was particularly keen to ensure the chefs gained an understanding of the processes involved in preparing fresh produce.

‘’We feel it is very beneficial for our new members of staff to know how to prepare meat and fish,” says Leigh. “We take them through it step by step as a lot of them have come straight from school and therefore do not have the experience.”

“We like to give them the opportunity of developing their skills and knowledge which will help them throughout their Apprenticeship as well as moulding them into top quality chefs for the future.’’

Different workshops run each month enabling the chefs to practice what they see and learn.

‘’The workshops coincide well with the units they are working on within their NVQ so it enables techniques to be clearer to them,’’ adds Leigh.

“We like to give them the opportunity of developing their skills and knowledge which will help them throughout their Apprenticeship”

- Leigh Myers, Executive Head Chef

Trainees Nick Jones, Ben Fields and Todd Lowdnes were involved in the fish preparation workshop and were introduced to a range of species of fish which are commonly served at the Hotel and learnt about the various stages involved before it can be served in the restaurant.

The academy will continue to run during the coming months with the group focussing on butchery techniques in their next session.

The Grosvenor Pulford Hotel & Spa is owned and operated by Nelson Northwest Hotels which also has establishments in Tattenhall, Chester (The Pheasant Inn) and Warmingham, Sandbach (The Bears Paw). For more information, visit http://www.grosvenorpulfordhotel.co.uk

Paul Mulville receives Golden Gates Housing's certificate from Kim Haselden

The programme which has been running for many years works in partnership with schools and other agencies to offer long term work experience placements with training for Year 10 and 11 pupils but is only made possible by the hardwork, patience and contribution of employers who choose to give young people a chance.

Prospects Plus helps young people gain relevant knowledge of their chosen vocational area and increases their employability skills so that they can smoothly progress into employment, Apprenticeships or further education.

Benefits

The benefits of the programme are vast, as the pupils from local schools not only receive a work based learning experience, but they also gain a work based qualification.

Total People has been working in conjunction with Great Sankey High School in Warrington for many years now and Prospects Plus Adviser Kim Haselden recognises the huge role local businesses play in enabling the programme to continue and be a success.

Gary Goodwin is recognised for his committment to young people

“We have built up great working relationships with local employers who have allowed young people to have a taste of what the world of work is like,” says Kim. “Without their involvement, the programme would not be possible.”

Employer Endorsement

Paul Mulville is the branch manager of Golden Gates Housing, part of Jewson Building Merchants in Warrington. They have worked alongside Total People in conjunction with Great Sankey High School for the past 4 years and provide young people with the opportunity of developing new skills.

“We like to give youngsters the chance to come and experience the work environment and we have had some really keen pupils who have been a great help to the business,” says Paul. This programme enables them to find something they are good at and we like having them here and will continue to do so in the future,” he adds.

We like to give youngsters the chance to come and experience the work environment -

Paul Mulville, Jewson Branch Manager

Meanwhile local plumber Gary Goodwin has also worked alongside Total People and the High School for a number of years and like Paul, recognises the role the programme plays in helping youngsters to develop. “I think a lot of young people learn best by doing practical exercises so something like this is ideal for them to learn the trade.”

Success

Both Paul and Gary are dedicated employers who understand the needs of the learner and as a result of their ongoing support, several learners upon completion of their placement, have left with employability skills that they might not of had if they hadn’t done their work experience at Jewson and Homeheat respectively.

Kim adds, “As a result of their placement, learners are able to gain more of an understanding about what it is that they would like to do when they finish school and the opportunity gives them more focus in wanting to succeed.”

Without the involvement of employers, the programme would not be possible -

Kim Haselden, Total People Adviser

Continuing the Programme

Kim Haselden has seen great changes in the learners that have had the opportunity to take part in work experience placements:

“Employers such as Paul and Gary are what allows our programme to continue and we really appreciate the role they play in mentoring the pupils but by also allowing them to coming into their busy working environment,” says Kim.

Total People’s Prospects Plus team currently work with schools across the Warrington, Macclesfield and Crewe areas and will be continuing to acknowledge the role of local employers during the coming weeks.

There are over 20 different types of Apprenticeships with Total People!

Want to start working?
Not going to University?
Apprenticeships could be for you…

If you’re looking to start work straight away but want to build on your qualifications an Apprenticeship might be the ideal choice. Apprenticeships allow you to work, learn and earn all at the same time and what’s good about them is that learning is practical and orientated around your chosen industry. As they are work based, you need to have a job in the relevant industry before you can start.

Have a look at the Apprenticeships section to view live job vacancies >>>

What if I haven’t got very good grades?

At Total People, we don’t just accept young people onto our training programmes based on academic performance. We are always looking to attract dedicated and committed individuals who want to develop their career and learn new skills.  We run other programmes which can help you develop and continue to learn.

What if I can’t find a job or I’m not sure what I want to do?

If you’re not quite ready for work or haven’t been accepted onto a college course or haven’t got the grades to progress to do A-Levels, our 16-19 programme may be just for you.

You can develop personal and social skills as well as learn important interview techniques and receive help in creating a C.V. and finding that all important job when you’re ready.

Some people have no idea what they want to do when they leave school. If this is you, don’t worry, Total People can help you discover what you’re good at and what may interest you by providing the opportunity for you to go out on work placements with local companies. If you find an area that interests you, you can start working towards qualifications and eventually progress onto an Apprenticeship.

Want Some Help Finding a Job?

Routes to Work is a programme designed to give you a helping hand in finding that job, apprenticeship or college course. Our team will help you each step of the way.

If you think this sounds like your kind of thing, find out how we can help you in finding a job >>>

How can I find out more about what to do next?

We’re here to help, so explore the site and if you’ve got any questions, you can use our live chat service where your queries will be answered immediately (between 8.30am and 5pm) or you can email or call us and someone will be able to offer you advise in helping you to choose your next step.

Learners were on programme for 6 months

Course Information

The programme which ran from January through until June this year enabled learners to gain more of an understanding into the common processes which they encounter in the workplace including maintaining employee records and calculating wages, tax and National Insurance.

Learners attended training sessions in Middlewich every 3-4 weeks for half a day where Accounts Training Adviser Sue Kerby-Skinner assisted by Louise Brereton would support and guide them through their learning.

They were a dedicated and committed group travelling from a variety of places including Manchester, Crewe and Northwich. The qualification is solely exam based with learners sitting one 3-hour exam as well as three skills tests.

Successful Marketing

The Accounts sector used various forms of marketing in order to promote the new qualification. Their activities included cold calling, emailing all existing companies as well as sending out flyers. Word of mouth was also significant so too was Total People’s reputation as a quality provider with previous learners getting in touch to learn more about the programmes available.

Accounts Team Leader Cheryl Kelsall is delighted with the success of the new qualification:

“We’re thrilled with the outcome of the first cohort of learners. The team have all worked tremendously hard in getting our Accredited Centre set up and have supported their learners in the workplace as well as helping each other to cover sessions if necessary. We’ve already got our second group of learners on programme so we’re hoping the pass rates will be just as high come December.”

Positive Feedback

Feedback from learners was extremely positive and when they were asked to comment on how much they had achieved, one learner replied:

“I have achieved so much during the past six months and have definitely learnt everything that was expected of me prior to starting. The course has been extremely worthwhile and hoping to carry on learning in the coming months.”

Some of the group will now progress onto their Advanced Apprenticeship in Payroll which is due to commence in January.

Find out more information about Accountancy and Payroll qualifications >>>

I was so uninterested at the time I (foolishly) left it to the school to set up a placement for me wiping sinks and salt shakers at a local restaurant and hotel, the thought of contacting the local newspaper as a link to my ambition of being in the media, not even crossing my mind. It wasn’t until I was writing my C.V during the last year of high school I thought of it again. My predicted grades were good but having only one week’s experience in the world of work, nothing to do with the career path I was planning on heading down, left my CV less than impressive to an employer. The idea of working without pay for some people is simply unbearable but there was no other way around the fact I wasn’t going to get myself a job of interest to me without it, so I set about writing letters to employers and asking around family and friends to help me gain experience within the media field. Before long, a family member, glad to see I was showing initiative towards getting a job for myself, had arranged a work placement for me at the Total People HQ where I would be working with the marketing team.

Monday

It was an early start amidst my post exam summer holiday but I was conscious to make the time to get into my office-wear and ensured I looked ready for work, even if I didn’t really feel it. The anticipation had woken me up by the time I had arrived at the offices and I was introduced to Ben Carter, the marketing team leader, who talked me through the week’s agenda. I was thrilled to hear that I would be using professional designing programmes to create my own link and “How to” pages for the website. The prospect seemed quite daunting at first, what if I had no ideas or couldn’t use the programmes? But after spending the afternoon following an online tutorial for the programme telling me how to design a mobile phone, I felt confident on starting the link the following day.

Tuesday

The brief I was given by the team leader was to design an attractive and eye-catching button reading “Register your interest” to go on the Total People’s homepage. After a frustrating start, I built up a piece of work using my GCSE Art Graphics skills and those built designing the mobile phone the previous day. I was pleased with the finished product, and looking forward to uploading it to the website the following morning.

Wednesday

I was thrilled to see my design live on the site however I edited the link several times before creating a print screen for a potential portfolio. I found the process of uploading the image surprisingly easy and although the html I needed to use was relatively simple, I had begun to regret not taking the subject at GCSE level and have since been considered taking an evening class next year. After completing this task, I was eager for my next, I was asked to create a “How to Register” at Apprenticeship.org.uk page for the Total People website as the company had been getting many calls asking of it. I set up an account and learnt how the website worked before producing print screens and simple instructions to make up the page.

Thursday

The “How to Register” page had now spilled into a “How to Apply” as well for the vacancies on the Apprenticeship website and although the work was repetitive and I was not enjoying looking at the screen for long amounts of time, I was content with how the pages were building up. A third page, “How to Manage your Applications” was added early afternoon and after I had made several adjustments to the team leaders advice the pages were ready to go up by Friday morning.

Friday

Today, I have been asked to record and reflect on what I have done over the past week. Gathering the pieces of work I have completed, it is apparent that I have not only practised skills but I have also learnt new ones, such as problem solving and web design.

This afternoon, I will leave with not only a dozen more lines on my CV but also a positive vision into a new career in this direction. Previous to this week, I felt sure that taking Art after GCSE would not be beneficial to me in regards to my career in media but during the week I have emailed my college to request enrollment in an Art- Graphic Communications qualification and am swaying towards digital advertising.

Work experiences, good and bad, are beneficial. It is becoming increasingly well known that Employers see experience far more significant than the qualifications a candidate may have. As I see it, the only way to get to the top job is to listen, learn and volunteer onto the bottom rung and work your way up from there. By completing several different placements and talking to employees of different companies around the area, I have a much clearer idea about what subjects I should take in the future and what I have to look forward to working in, in two years time.

Becky Lines

On Thursday, 220 honoured guests gathered at Crewe Hall in Cheshire for Total People’s Training Awards Ceremony.

The annual event commemorates the success of exceptional people, recognising their success in achieving qualifications which include Apprenticeships, National Vocational Qualifications (NVQs) and Functional Skills.

The event also acknowledges the valuable contribution of local employers who invest quality time in ensuring their staff receive the best possible training in order to continue in their professional and personal development.

The event commenced with a drinks reception followed by a three course dinner. A series of awards were then presented by Joint Managing Director of Total People, Dave Watts who said:

“The Training Awards is an excellent opportunity to recognise the achievements of people who undertake work based qualifications as well as acknowledge the key role played by local employers.”

Amongst those employers included Bentley Motors, Cheshire East Council, BAE Systems, AstraZeneca and CLS Care Services all of whom have been working in partnership with Total People for a number of years.

The awards for learners and employers were separated into seven categories including Apprentice of the Year, Adult Learner of the Year and the Employer Most Committed to Training and Development.

A special accolade was presented to Bentley Motors (large employer) and TPL Hairdressing (SME) who were awarded with the ‘Training in Partnership Award’.

It was a double scoop for Bentley as one of their Engineers, Charlotte Gough, was also named Advanced Apprentice of the Year.

The Employer Most Committed to Training and Development Award was awarded to BAE Systems in Alsager and VKR Logistics in Winsford. Lucie and Vincent from VKR Logistics were shocked to have received such a prestigious award when up against such a lot of fantastic companies, “We are extremely proud of our staff and their continuous hard work. Without them receiving this fantastic recognition would not have been possible-Well Done to the whole of the VKR Team.”

Hilary Bland, Operations Training & Development Manager at BAE System, who won the Large Enterprise Employer Most Committed to Training & Development, said, ”We are thrilled to win this prestigious award, which has been the result of a huge effort and drive from within our business to deliver training and development programmes that benefit all employees. This recognition supports my view that BAE Systems is a great place to work and is somewhere where employees are valued and continually developed.”

The winners of Total People’s Training Awards were:

Young Apprentice of the Year

Winner

Tom Cull, Alsager

Highly commended

Thomas Hill, Great Sankey
James Bettley, Sandbach
Jonathan Lowe, Congleton

Foundation Learner of the Year

Winner

Jordan Steadman

Highly commended

Kaye Phillips
Robert Brown

Apprentice of the Year

Winner

Aimee Rowlands

Highly commended

Alexander James Carrington
Cleo Carlin
Darren Lee Simmons
Emma Waldron
Lucy Jean Eames
Stacey Talbot

Advanced Apprentice of the Year

Winner

Charlotte Gough

Highly commended

Emma Louise Davies
Jamie Flood
Matthew McDonough
Nathan Wood
Samuel O’Connor
Victoria Washburn

Adult Learner of the Year

Winner

Kathleen Few

Highly commended

Felistus Manomano
Gerald Paget
Kirk Robinson

Employer Most Committed to Training & Development of the Year

Winners

VKR Logistics, (Small – Medium Enterprise)
BAE Systems, (Large Enterprise)

Highly commended

ATOS Origin
Barclays Gadbrook Park
Baytree Construction
Bentley Motors
Brewsters Ltd
Cheshire West and Chester Council
CLS Care Services
David Fradley
Durapipe UK Warehouse Site 3
F Klucznik & Son – T/A IAE
Harbour Dental Practice
Harrington Day Nursery
Kids Academy Nursery Group
Little Friends Day Nursery and Learning Centre
Manorway Centre
Medica Packaging ltd
Newgate Kennels ltd
R J Parry (Joinery) Ltd
Richmond Village Nantwich
Ricoh UK Products Ltd
RTA Business Consultants Ltd
Timstar Laboratory Suppliers Ltd
TPL Hairdressing
UK Fuels ltd
Voodou
Wilsons Hairdressing
Woodward & Falconer Pubs Ltd

Training in Partnership Award

Winners

TPL Hairdressing, (Small – Medium Enterprise)
Bentley Motor Cars, (Large Enterprise)

23 learners were taken to The Edge Adventure Centre in Much Wenlock, Shropshire where they enjoyed Quad Biking, Archery, Climbing and Mountain Boarding.

Trainer Shirli Bailes with two pathways learners

The Programme

The Pathways Programme is designed to equip 16-18 year olds with the necessary personal and practical skills which will help them to gain full time employment. It combines work placements alongside off-the-job training in workshops and classroom sessions at Total People’s centre in Halesfield.

Throughout the past 10 months, learners have been working towards an NVQ Level 1 in Motor Vehicle, Engineering, Bricklaying, Carpentry and Joinery or Business and Administration. They developed their knowledge and understanding of their chosen industry by attending workshops and training sessions at the Total People centre. They were also able to work towards Functional Skills qualifications, Employability Awards and First Aid.

Success

Trainer Shirli Bailes congratulated all of the learners at the end of the activities and presented them with their certificates. “Everyone has enjoyed a great day and this is a reward to all of the learners who have worked hard throughout their programme.”

Many of the learners have secured jobs as a result of their successful work placements and will soon commence their Apprenticeship programme.

The next group of Pathways learners will be starting this summer and it is hoped numbers will continue to increase and vocational areas grow throughout the centres in Telford, Macclesfield, Market Drayton, Burslem and Crewe.

Peter Bradford is keen to continue gaining qualifications in the workplace

Peter Bradford, is a Cath Lab assistant and is currently working towards his Apprenticeship in Health and Social Care, following the Support Services pathway which best reflects his job role. He was keen to sign up when he heard about the introduction of work based qualifications.

“I’ve done this job for many years but this is the first opportunity that I have had to gain a qualification which is relevant to my job,” says Peter.

Partnership

The Apprenticeship has become particularly popular with porters, domestics and Cath Lab assistants and Learning and Development Officer Dyfan Tucker for the hospital is keen to continue in offering the programme to other members of staff.

“Feedback from the existing cohort has been extremely positive. It has helped to expand staff’s knowledge and create an understanding about everyone’s job and how each person plays a vital role in the day to day running of the hospital.”

Continuing learning

“I’ve got a lot out of doing the Apprenticeship,” says Peter. “It has made me more aware about the importance of doing certain things in a particular way and has also made me more determined to progress in the industry.”

Peter will soon be completing his Apprenticeship and hopes to add to his qualifications in the near future.

When: Monday 28th June 2010

Where: BPP Professional Education, Ground Floor, Boulton House, Chorlton Street, Manchester. M1 3HY

Time: 10am – 3pm

On the day you will:

• take part in an AAT accountancy course taster session
• have a talk given by a current student who will tell you what it’s like to work in accountancy and study with BPP
• attend a CV writing workshop
• take part in an interview skills workshop

Attending the career day will give you:

• a better understanding of what you will learn on an accountancy course and what a career in accounting will be like
• hints and tips on how to present yourself in an interview
• feedback on your current CV (you will need to bring this on the day)
• advice on what to include, and what not to include, on your CV to ensure it will stand out to potential employers

For more information and to book your place, please visit:

 www.bpp.com/aat/manchester-taster