Learning new skills…at Sculcoates Cemetery!
Being an apprentice means that you’re on a steep learning curve – but it’s not only work skills that you’ll develop, as our eight Kingston Communications (KC) apprentices found out recently. As part of the celebrations for National Apprenticeship Week (1st – 5th February 2011), the eight young people found themselves on an away day with a difference; assisting with a community project at Sculcoates Cemetery in Hull. This type of initiative is one that KC regularly participates in, offering all its employees, not just apprentices, the opportunity to give something back to the local community, to learn new skills and to enjoy team working outside of their normal roles.
Probably relieved to find they were not on grave digging duty, since the area is now a nature reserve and no longer used for burials, the apprentices and their colleagues were put to task with activities such as planting trees, snowdrops, cutting up wood, erecting a bench and other gardening tasks. They were participating in the KC Community Challenge, an initiative supported by Business in the Community, in which various members of KC staff take time out of their normal roles to undertake community work.
Team spirit
Joining the apprentices on the day was Helen Roberts, KC’s HR Director who took time out afterwards to tell us about the experience.
“They are a fantastic team of young people - a real asset to our business (and to yours). The energy, team spirit and passion they all share in bucket loads is infectious. I felt compelled to drop you a line … I thought it might be timely for you to have some first-hand feedback about the great things these young people can offer a business. If I had any lingering doubts about the commitment we were making by taking them on, after spending the day with them, all doubts have been completely eradicated.
“I absolutely know they will go on to do great things in their career - and it really is a pleasure to be trying to help them at the start of it.”
Success
So the community day was a huge success on many levels. For starters, the Sculcoates Neighbourhood Association were delighted with the efforts of the whole team for their report on progress of their ongoing project to transform the area into a place of ‘peaceful leisure pursuits’ for local residents to enjoy.
Secondly, senior staff at KC experienced at first hand the quality of the apprenticeships in which they are investing, realising that these young people already are a real asset to the company, and will contribute greatly to its future success.
As importantly, though, these eight young people learnt a little bit more about themselves; how satisfying it can be to give something back, and about the rewards of team working. And to us, these life skills are just as valuable as the work skills they’re learning in the course of their vocational placement. Well done, guys. We’re proud of you!