To improve this, the government and the industry’s qualifications awarding bodies have re-introduced the apprenticeship scheme, where young people are trained in trade disciplines to clearly defined national standards.

Flower Skills is delighted to be delivering this training on behalf of CSkills for a group of apprentices from Lakehouse. The apprentices work with Lakehouse as part of their building maintenance team for 4 days a week and attend Flower Skills 1 day a week to undertake training across all aspects of their work, completing a level 2 technical certificate in the process. We work with them to explain the relevance and benefit of the training they undertake to the work they are, or will be, doing.

Flower Skills is supporting the apprentices throughout their course, liaising between the awarding body and the employer to ensure the smooth running of the programme. Our tutors deliver the relevant theory requirements to underpin their practical tasks and our apprenticeship manager visits the learners on site to help them maintain records of their activities and so provide evidence towards their NVQ. We also hold regular reviews with both the apprentices and their employers.

• Maintenance Operations (Construction)
• Bricklaying
• Interior Systems – Dry lining fixer & Dry lining finisher
• Site Carpentry Levels
• Plastering Basic and Full
• Painting and Decorating

ASD Learning had the idea of giving their clients (all young people with autism or other learning needs) the opportunity to try their hand at practical training. This would help them to learn new skills and develop confidence in their abilities and in dealing with new situations. The plan was for the students to start with a short programme of a few hours a day for a few days, allowing them to build their confidence while getting to know their tutors. If the student then felt confident enough they would then progress onto a full day programme, giving them the opportunity to learn new skills and gain further confidence while interacting with others.

The first programme was run successfully over 6 weeks from January, finishing just before half term. The success of the programme could be measured by the enthusiasm of the students wanting to attend, and being excited by the practical training that they received in painting, plastering, carpentry and team building. 3 of the students did really well and are now starting to join existing groups for a full day’s training at FST every week.

The next 6 week programme has now started with new students and returning students working together. The opening session introduced them to plastering and in the coming weeks they will experience different trades such as carpentry, painting etc as well as developing their confidence.

Flower Skills & Training would like to extend their congratulations to those students who are progressing onto the full day programme as well as those students who completed the first 6 week programme.

At ASD Learning Ltd, we have created five specialist tuition centres in and around South East London working with students who are ‘out of school’ and have learning difficulties. We provide social and communication skills combined with and educational provision designed around the student’s needs. We feel very strongly that vocational skills training, hands on learning, is very important to our students.

In conjunction with Flower Skills we have created a ‘Taster Course’ introducing our students to the various construction skills. After successful completion, students’ progress to a full day a week and work towards achieving a qualification (City & Guilds 6218 Multi Skills). Students are being prepared either for further training or finding an employer.