Channel 4 News shines a spotlight on FCHO apprentices

Channel 4 News was in town last week filming some of our apprentices for a feature about GCSE results day.

Trainee joiners Angelise Johnston, 17 (pictured right), and 18-year-old Devon Laithwaite-Adair (pictured left) plus recently qualified electrician Jordan Kemp, 25 (pictured centre), were all in front of the camera to talk about why they have taken the apprenticeship path rather than A Levels.

FCHO chief executive Mark Gifford was also interviewed during filming at an empty property in Greenacres as the housing association looks to more than double the number of its apprentices by 2027.

Angelise told the reporter she is a first-year apprentice and did not want to go to college after leaving school. She explained she wanted a hands-on role following some voluntary experience at a community centre doing maintenance work.

Devon started A Levels studying medical science, PE and psychology to become a physio but he realised it was not for him and he applied to FCHO.

“I was fortunate to get a place and since I’ve started, I’ve had lots of support and been helped by my mentors,” he said.

Jordan told the film crew he had always liked fixing things and because he also liked maths, becoming an electrician felt like the best option.

“I have finished my apprenticeship and now secured a full-time role with FCHO. I have become a lot more confident and developed my people skills, as I'm working in customer’s houses daily, so you must learn to speak to people and have conversations,” he explained. 

FCHO multi-skilled joiner and apprentice mentor Chris Duxbury was also interviewed and said: “We’ve got a skills shortage, and we need to safeguard trades by attracting people to the sector, where they can earn good money and develop valuable life skills.”

Mr Gifford added: “It was exciting having Channel 4 with us on Wednesday and a real confidence boost for our apprentices, our colleagues and FCHO to have highlighted in this way the good work we are achieving with our apprenticeship programme.

“We need to skill local people in the important trades needed to build the homes the area is desperate for. That’s why we are going to at least double our apprentice numbers by 2027 to 22 - a target we expect to beat.

“I also echo what Chris said. We must recognise there is a skills shortage in construction and we are working hard to fill it in partnership with Oldham College while also offering real quality choices for young people who do not want to go down the academic path and the debt it might entail.”

The feature involving FCHO was aired on Thursday's edition of Channel 4 News and can be watched by clicking on this link.