Apprentice Jack shows true worth

Feb 3 2010 by James Ramsbotham, The Journal

THERE is a Chinese proverb which simply says "One generation plants the trees; another gets the shade". It takes time to plant trees, to nurture them to the point where they are of benefit to the people who follow after us.

In business terms, apprenticeships are a metaphorical way of planting trees. They are the canopy of experience that will shade young people from the ravages of an economic downturn the like of which I hope they will not witness again for many decades.

Embarking on a week-long run of activity to mark National Apprenticeship Week, I had my commitment to providing training opportunities for people of all ages strengthened by a hands-on glimpse into the training programmes that are making a difference for thousands of school leavers.

Having been offered, and gladly accepted, the opportunity to exchange roles for the day with a young apprentice I expected to enjoy an insight into this most valuable vocational route into employment but I never anticipated how inspiring it would be.

NECC is the largest North East vocational training provider and places apprentices with Blyth-based Drager each year. Jack Glendinning, Drager’s 2009 Apprentice of the Year, was the young man whose shoes I was figuratively to walk in for the day, and he in mine.

What I witnessed was a talented individual utterly dedicated to his job. Some observers have in the past crudely and inaccurately suggested that the brightest people go to university and the others do apprenticeships. Jack was proof that this could not be further from the truth – he was intelligent and articulate and had made a conscious decision to enter the workplace instead of the degree route.

Worryingly, Jack took to my job far more easily than I did to his. He effortlessly handled media interviews with two TV channels, one radio interview and a further grilling by this august journal. He then brought a smile to 30 NECC staff on a company roadshow by taking to the stage and welcoming a sea of faces he had never met before and inviting them to listen to me present an update on our business. I was very much the understudy.

Drager, like a good number of companies, has a strong commitment to apprenticeships. They recognise the great benefit this brings to their business. Most importantly, they realise that without providing apprenticeships they will struggle to maintain a skilled workforce for the long term. In doing so, they are providing the land for people like me to plant the trees. On Monday though, I was not the one providing the canopy – it was Jack who well and truly left me in the shade.

James Ramsbotham is chief executive of the North East Chamber of Commerce