TRAFFORD College is once again showing how supporting local talent and taking on Apprentices can enhance business.

The college, rated ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted, has a long standing reputation of delivering exceptional apprenticeship programmes to companies across the North West, and has itself employed apprentices and current staff who have completed apprenticeship programmes.

With the introduction of the college’s apprenticeship recruitment service ‘Trafford First’, the college is providing the young people of Greater Manchester with even more opportunities to take advantage of this increasingly popular career route.

Katrina O’Brien, 20, from Old Trafford, is currently a business administration aprentice and is one of the latest apprentices to be taken on by the college.

Her role for Trafford First helps to match learners with suitable employers so they can begin their apprenticeship journey.

Katrina said: “My apprenticeship is great. The college is really helping me develop my skills and experience while letting me get on with the job independently.

“I decided to do an apprenticeship as I wanted to further my skills and had tried other college courses previously but they just weren’t for me.

I prefer learning practically. Plus on an apprenticeship, you get to earn money whilelearning and gaining skills at the same time, which is amazing.”

Samantha Sargeant, 24, and Paul Banks, 25, are at the other side of their apprenticeship journey to Katrina having both completed business administration apprenticeships and successfully secured employment with Trafford College.

Samantha, who along with Katrina works for Trafford First, started her apprenticeship six years ago and now as works as an apprenticeship recruitment coordinator where she gets to see all the fantastic apprenticeship opportunities available for young people.

Her apprenticeship journey has even included completing a foundation degree which further assisted her in securing the role at Trafford College.

Paul, who now works for the college’s management information systems team as contracts and projects administrator has been at the college for more than seven years and started his apprenticeship there back in 2007.

Paul was attracted to the prospect of this practical study route as it meant he could work and earn without having to take lots of time out to attend college.

Paul said: “The college is great. The quality of training and support is excellent, all of the staff are really supportive and they really get behind you.

“I didn’t have any previous skills or training in the area, but the college helped me get the skills and qualifications to progress into my current career.”

For more information about apprenticeship vacancies or the ‘Trafford First’ Recruitment Service, please contact 0161 886 7461 or email Trafford.first@trafford.ac.uk.