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Apprentice electricians are more prepared for the world of work thanks to a new industry-led training partnership.
The Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) has teamed up with Interserve, the international support services and construction company, to provide 45 students at Southport College with health and safety awareness training.
Through the partnership, the apprentices undertook IOSH’s Working Safely training course to provide them with relevant, industry-recognised workplace health and safety knowledge before starting out at work.
Dina Alkhalidi, Head of Customer Engagement at IOSH, said:
“We are always looking for new ways to engage with business to deliver value to the community.
“Through this partnership with Interserve, we wanted to help make the apprentices more employable on completion of their apprenticeship.
“We hope that by engaging with the apprentices as they start their new careers it will provide them with skills for life and increase their awareness of IOSH as a professional body.”
Trainers Paul Richards and Andy Shippam from Interserve delivered IOSH’s Working Safely course at the college on 26 and 27 April.
Paul, who is Quality, Safety, Health and Environment (QSHE) Director at Interserve and a Chartered Member of IOSH, said:
“I did my advanced City & Guilds qualification in plumbing and heating at Southport College, so it has got a personal attachment to me.
“This is big business giving something back to the community in order to better equip apprentices in occupational health and safety risks”
“Last year I was given the opportunity by Phil Ross, an electrical tutor at the college, to talk to his apprentices about health and safety in connection with facilities management.
“On the back of this, Phil asked if I could explore ways to further develop these apprentices as they headed into the world of work following their final exams in May. I suggested IOSH Working Safely.
“We held this first pilot session which was a huge success, with a view to potentially continuing this every year for the students who are leaving and going into industry.
“This is big business giving something back to the community in order to better equip apprentices in occupational health and safety risks before they go out into the workplace, ensuring they have the skills to identify hazards, mitigate risk, and communicate their health and safety concerns so that they can go home safe at the end of their working day, every day.”
“Experience gained through industry links with companies and organisations is vital to our students’ development”
John Clarke, Principal of Southport College, said:
“Southport College is committed to ensuring that students are prepared for their industry of choice. The recent training that our Level 2 and Level 3 Electrical students have received from IOSH will not only aid their learning but also support them in their future careers.
“Every year our Advanced Level students go on to higher education and further training with some vocational students choosing to fulfil their entrepreneurial ambitions by setting up their own businesses. Experience gained through industry links with companies and organisations is vital to our students’ development and we are most grateful to Interserve and IOSH for providing them with this opportunity.”
IOSH Working Safely is for people at any level, in any sector, needing a grounding in the essentials of health and safety.
The classroom-based course is recognised by the UK’s Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) as an equivalent to a Level 1 Award in Health and Safety in a construction environment.
It means those who complete Working Safely can apply for their CSCS green card, which will enable them to work on construction sites.
For more information about IOSH’s range of training products, visit www.iosh.co.uk/training
