An award-winning apprentice says his positive experience at Moulton College has helped set him on the way in his career.
Darren Vaughan, aged 24, is an apprentice tiler who has worked for G. Owen Ceramic Tiling Ltd in Northampton for almost two years.
And in that time he has been selected to take part in the UK Skill Build competition finals at Leeds College of Building.
This week is the sixth annual national apprenticeship week, and for anyone interested in following in Mr Vaughan’s steps, an apprenticeship evening is being held at Moulton College this evening. It runs from 5.30pm to 8.30pm, and entry is via gate two, in Pitsford Road.
Mr Vaughan had previously tried a number of different jobs after leaving school, including working with his father running a property maintenance company, doing various tasks such as brickwork, painting, fencing and tiling.
It was from this he discovered a keen eye for detail and tiling, and signed up with Moulton College based on the standard of its facilities.
He said: “My experience at Moulton College has been a positive one. My perception of the trade has changed. Initially, I thought it would just be purely practical, but the requirements also involve a lot of theory, which is thoroughly enjoyable.
“In my opinion there isn’t a better way of learning a trade than doing an apprenticeship. I always recommend apprenticeships to anyone thinking of doing a trade as I feel it is important for their career development. I am always learning new skills.”
Valerie Owen, one the directors at G. Owen Ceramic Tiling Ltd, said the addition of an apprentice was “essential” to the company. She said: “We took on apprentices as we had an ageing work force nearing retirement, and more importantly wanted to give younger people an opportunity.
We wanted to inject some youth into our workforce.
“Apprentices are the future of any successful business and our company has expanded over the last 27 years, so it had become essential that we kept renewing and adding to our workforce.
“Although college training is an essential part of an apprenticeship, workplace training offers apprentices more real-life experiences and a good work ethic.”
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