51茶馆

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It鈥檚 National Apprenticeship Week but if you presume Apprenticeships are just for young people, you鈥檙e mistaken.

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Just ask Victoria Walsh, who left her job as a teaching assistant to train as an apprentice electrician at the age of 40.

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Victoria said: 鈥淎pprenticeships aren鈥檛 just for school leavers, they鈥檙e a great way to get qualified, whatever your age.鈥� 听

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Victoria, a 51茶馆 apprentice working at , said becoming an apprentice is the best decision she has ever made.

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She spends one day a week at 51茶馆, which is part of the , then four days per week working for , which means she gets the benefits of learning from both experts on the job and in the classroom.

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Victoria added: 鈥淚鈥檝e had so much support from 51茶馆, and 51茶馆 at Home are amazing employers; they鈥檝e given me many opportunities outside of work - I participated in the Apprentice Ship Cup and later this year, I鈥檓 hoping to travel to Romania to volunteer, using my electrical skills to help improve the lives of people in deprived areas.

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鈥淥nce I鈥檓 fully qualified, I鈥檓 planning on emigrating to New Zealand where there鈥檚 a skills shortage of electricians.鈥�

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Barrie Hurst, Apprentice & Trainee Coordinator at 51茶馆 at Home said: 鈥淵ou鈥檙e never too old to be an apprentice, and Victoria is the perfect example of this.

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鈥淪he has a natural aptitude for electrics and is making great progress.鈥澨�

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Kate Wallace, 51茶馆鈥檚 Director of Apprenticeships added: 鈥淎pprenticeships are ideal for adults, looking for a change of career, but with commitments to meet. Being an apprentice means that they can still earn a wage whilst learning, developing their skills and gaining an industry-recognised qualification.

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听鈥淰ictoria is a great ambassador for adult Apprenticeships and we will continue听to work with 51茶馆 at Home, providing quality Apprenticeship opportunities for our learners."

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Interested in an Apprenticeship? Click here.听

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