TNG's Tottenham Apprenticeship Scheme

Jake Kyprianou, a 19 year old ex-actor who previously played the role of Joe di Marco (Beppe di Marco’s son) in the popular BBC soap Eastenders, is hoping for a new start as he joins TNG, a welfare to work training provider, as an Advanced Customer Services Apprentice, one of the 22 apprentices working for Avanta/ TNG, as part of its commitment to tackle youth unemployment.

Jake, a child actor, left Eastenders in 2002 aged 10.  After leaving school with few qualifications and limited work experience, Jake found it hard to get onto the job ladder.  As an apprentice he was able to enhance his IT skills and gain ‘hands on’ experience, as well as learn workplace skills not available in the classroom like working as part of a team and the ability to prioritise.  His duties include: basic administration skills, gathering information, dealing with telephone enquiries, and supporting his colleagues when organising bookings or producing documentation etc. 

Commenting on his experience at TNG, Jake said: "I have really enjoyed being an ‘Apprentice’, it has given me exposure to a working environment whilst developing my existing skills.  I think that the common belief that apprentices end up doing filing and nothing else, is unfounded.  I am sure I will be using the skills I acquired as an apprentice in my future career and I am grateful for all the support I receive at TNG."

There are many benefits to an Apprenticeship programme.  It provides participants with the opportunity to:

• Achieve a nationally recognised qualification
• Earn while they learn.  An apprenticeship is open to anyone aged 16 or over, in employment and earning a minimum of £95 per week.
• Have a new start - enhance their career prospects whilst making them more employable in their chosen career.
• Gain knowledge and progress up the career ladder
• Gain practical skills and develop an understanding of the job

TNG delivers Apprenticeship training in the following sectors:

• Health and Social Care
• Children’s Care, Learning and Development
• Administration
• Customer Services
• Warehousing
• Supporting Teaching and Learning in Schools
• Hospitality
• Team Leading
• Management
• Retail

Commenting on the benefits of the Apprenticeship programme, Denise Ellison, Director of Skills at Avanta, said: "Apprenticeships will always be an important part of providing young people with the skills they need to secure a job and build a career.  TNG, which is part of Avanta, has been delivering Apprenticeship schemes for over 10 years and has currently delivered 4,471 Apprenticeships to 4,149 apprentices.  Our aim is to ensure that our apprentices leave their Apprenticeships with the required skills which will help them get on to the career ladder, and more importantly, provide them with the confidence to succeed.

"Apprenticeships provide an alternative for those individuals who want to combine education with a paid for, ‘hands on’, practical approach to learning while earning money.  There are also many benefits for the employer, a recent survey conducted by the Learning and Skills Council shows that 74% of the businesses questioned said that apprentices tended to  be more loyal, remaining at the company longer than non-apprentices, with 81% said that employing apprentices generated higher overall productivity for their company."

Apprenticeship week is taking place on 7th - 11th February 2011.  For more information on Apprenticeships delivered by www.takecontrol.me.uk