Seventeen apprentices are taking their first steps towards a new career after joining The Auckland Project.
The apprentices, who are all from County Durham, have taken roles in Horticulture, Curatorial, Events, Visitor Services, Engagement and Catering at the Bishop Auckland-based charity.
Aged between 16 and 48, the new recruits have joined The Auckland Project as it works with the local community to develop a world-class visitor destination in Bishop Auckland.
Each apprentice will spend a year with The Auckland Project, 18 months for the horticultural apprentices, gaining the skills and qualifications to enable them to take the next step in their training or move on to progress further in their career.
New horticultural apprentice, David Raine first joined The Auckland Project as a volunteer with the horticultural team 18 months ago.
David, 48, who had been unemployed for 20 years, says his new career has given him renewed hope.
“I was over the moon when I heard my application was successful, I feel like I have more of a future now, I’m optimistic and I think good will come out of this,” he said.
The latest round of recruitment takes the total number of apprentices at The Auckland Project to 25, with more recruits due to join by the end of the year.
Emma Milgate, from Evenwood, applied for an apprenticeship with the Curatorial team, after completing a Stepping Stones to Employment course.
Led by County Durham Housing Group and The Auckland Project, the free course is designed to boost confidence, develop new skills and enhance employability.
Emma had been unemployed for six months when she began the programme and is now mid-way through an Open University degree in History and Religion. She said: “Stepping Stones gave me a lot of confidence.
“My passion is history and my degree fits in nicely with the apprenticeship so I’m really looking forward to getting started now.”
The new apprenticeships have been co-ordinated by Auckland Academy, a partnership between Bishop Auckland College and The Auckland Project.
Of the 17 new positions, eight have been funded thanks to National Lottery players via the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF), while the four horticultural apprenticeships and five catering apprenticeships have been funded by The Weston Bursaries, part of The Garfield Weston Foundation.
It is expected that sixty apprenticeships will be created over the next three years.
Bishop Auckland's local community newspaper.
