The CORGI Trust, registered charitable owner of the CORGI Group, in conjunction with Connexions Hertfordshire, will announce the commencement of a ‘pilot’ gas, plumbing and electrical trades training scheme at an Installer Forum in Hertfordshire tomorrow.
The Gas Employment Scheme is a ‘pilot’ partnership between The CORGI Trust, CORGI and Connexions Hertfordshire. The aim is to get 16 to19 year-olds (or those up to 25 with special needs) including those leaving school and college this academic year, to take up apprenticeships in the gas engineering, plumbing and electrical industries.
Trust Manager Nigel Dumbrell said:
“The CORGI Trust, and CORGI Group, is proud to be working in partnership with Connexions Hertfordshire on this Employment Scheme. We believe the scheme will enable many young people in the Hertfordshire area to gain valuable skills, knowledge, experience and confidence, which will set them up for the future.
“The scheme in Hertfordshire is a ‘pilot’ operation and we are so confident that it will be a success that we have already begun talking to other organisations and colleges so that it can be rolled out across the UK”.
Connexions Employment Manager Pam Balbi said:
“The scheme will allow any CORGI registered employer to take on a young trainee and get both financial and practical help right from the start. We’ve also searched out the right training courses and can help even the sole trader to take on an apprentice.
“We have had enthusiastic support from the Learning Skills Council, who together with CORGI, are going to back employers financially. It’s really important to get the young people of Hertfordshire into jobs with a future and Connexions is delighted to be working with CORGI and the Learning Skills Council on a scheme that will be straightforward and simple for employers to use”.
The last date to enter the initial ‘pilot’ scheme is 31st July 2008, though it is hoped that further funding may soon be available. The CORGI Trust, in association with CORGI, aims to provide support to Connexions to gain access to potential gas installer employers to enable young people to have the opportunity to consider training and gaining employment as a gas installer, as well as negotiating funding from The CORGI Trust and gas manufacturing industry.
The scheme will provide those businesses that employ a trainee with an initial grant to meet their business commitments and liabilities, as well as a dedicated mentor to liaise between the employer and the apprentice.
Any CORGI registered employer that was unable to attend the Installer Forum on the 24th April, has not missed out. If you are interested in taking on an apprentice under the Gas Employment Scheme simply call 0845 600 3133 to speak to a member of Connexions Employment team who can give you further information.
For further information on The CORGI Trust visit:
www.trustcorgi.com/corgitrust