First plumbers complete new training course

12:30 6th April 2009

The first plumbers have completed a new training course set up in Hedge End, Hampshire, by Apprenticeship Training Ltd (ATL) and the Prince's Trust.

Dubbed Get into Building Services, the course lasted three weeks and resulted in 11 trainees between the ages of 16 and 25 walking away with City & Guilds plumbing certificates.

Students on the course are young offenders, academic underachievers or otherwise unemployed and while completion of the course has enabled the students to move closer towards become fully qualified plumbers, they also undertake a home learning course as part of the Train 4 Trade Skills programme.

Nick Hayward, of ATL, said: "We were absolutely delighted with the really high standard of work done by these trainees, their application to the course and commitment to wanting to take their training further."

He added that the students will be returning to complete the practical elements of the Train 4 Trade Skills course, once the home learning is finished.

Over 30 per cent of UK businesses have reduced their training budgets due to the recession, according to recent figures from the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development.