National Apprenticeship Week at Carshalton College

10.26.53am GMT Mon 15th Feb 2010

Tom Brake, MP for Carshalton and Wallington, gave his full support to National Apprenticeship Week at Carshalton College by shadowing hairdressing students at work on Friday 5th February. Apprenticeship schemes blend work and study to offer young people the chance to become qualified in their career of choice, with four days a week in the workplace and one day a week in College.

Apprenticeship Week is a national event celebrating the talents and skills of apprentices and highlighting to employers the advantages of supporting apprentices in the workplace.

Shadowing apprentices Ashleigh Campbell and Kerry Brookman who work at The Hair Sanctuary in Carshalton, gave Tom the opportunity to find out what it means to be an apprentice working with a local company and studying at Carshalton College.

The Hair Sanctuary has a long-standing relationship with Carshalton College, as the salon proprietor Georgina Millington, started her own career at just 16 years of age at Carshalton College before setting up her own salon three years ago. Georgina will continue to expand her industry qualifications as she commences a NVQ Level 3 in hairdressing at the College this month, alongside one of her trainees Kerry Brookman. Another trainee Ashleigh Campbell, who is working towards her NVQ level 2 qualifications.

Tom Brake said "It was a pleasure to meet Georgina and it is clear that apprenticeships are a great way to combine work and study. They help develop extra skills, something which is vitally important at a time when jobs are in short supply."

Vic Grimes from the National Apprenticeship Service said "We are delighted that London MPs are taking part in Apprenticeship Week through activities such as 'back to the floor'. MPs are getting a taste of how Apprenticeships contribute to London's economy across a number of sectors and industries".