250 APPRENTICES DONATE 2,300 HOURS TO REFURBISH YOUTH HOSTELS AS PART OF NATIONAL APPRENTICESHIP WEEK
To mark the start of National Apprenticeship Week 2015 (9 – 13 March), leading UK public and regulated services provider, Amey, has committed to hiring 1000 apprentices in the next four years. Meanwhile, over 250 current Amey apprentices are celebrating the occasion with a week-long, UK-wide challenge to support local communities by helping to refurbish youth hostel accommodation.
Organised in partnership with The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award (DofE), the apprentices will be applying their practical experience and contributing around 2,300 community hours during the week, undertaking a variety of tasks for YHA England & Wales and SYHA Hostelling Scotland including groundwork, painting and building a water power generator; all whilst developing key work place skills, such as resilience, team work, communication, problem solving and leadership.
The apprentices will be supported by Executive Team members from the organising partners including Mel Ewell, CEO for Amey.
Mel comments:
“Supporting communities and investing in people has always been at the core of our business and this week is all about demonstrating our commitment to these objectives. We’re delighted to be partnering with the DofE, YHA and SYHA to celebrate apprenticeships and the positive impact they have on communities, businesses and the wider economy.”
For the last five years, Amey has offered all its apprentices the opportunity to achieve their Gold DofE Award as part of their apprenticeship programme, recognising the positive impact DofE programmes have on personal and professional development and, in turn, fostering the business leaders of the future. The apprentices’ volunteering efforts during NAW form part of their wider DofE volunteering commitments whereby they volunteer for up to 18 months in their communities in order to achieve their Gold DofE Awards.
Commenting on the DofE Charity’s partnership with Amey, Peter Westgarth, Chief Executive of the DofE, said, “As a partner of the DofE Charity for thirteen years, Amey has long supported the development of young people and local communities. Through the Volunteering section of their DofE, apprentices give back to others whilst developing valuable skills and attributes that will support them as they progress through their career at Amey. We’re thrilled to be working in partnership with Amey, YHA and SYHA on such a worthwhile project that will have far-reaching benefits within local communities and the apprentices’ own personal and professional development.”
10 YHAs in England and Wales and three in Scotland are set to benefit from the National Apprenticeship Week volunteering day. Caroline White, Chief Executive of YHA said:
“This is the largest single corporate volunteering day YHA has ever had and we are immensely grateful to Amey for choosing YHA as the benefactor during such a significant week. The entire ethos of YHA is to create opportunities for young people and the partnership with Amey, its apprentices, DofE and our volunteer programme embodies this perfectly.
“As a charity we rely on volunteers to support our network and enable us to continue to inspire and reach young people.
“We want to reach one million young people and the partnership with Amey will contribute significantly to this aim. Not only will 250 Amey apprentices be visiting our properties during National Apprenticeship Week, but the legacy of their valuable maintenance work at 10 YHAs will enable us to continue to provide first rate accommodation and facilities to young people and their families.”