Apprentice Scheme Revived

08 August 2006

After a gap of some years the Transport and Technical Services Department (TTS) has revived Technician Apprentice training within the organisation.

In late 2005, two apprentices were recruited on four-year training contracts and have been enrolled with the Training and Employment Partnership on the ‘Jersey Apprenticeship Scheme’, one in electrical engineering and the other in motor vehicle engineering.

After undergoing a rigorous selection and interview process, 18 year old Matt Le Templier was recruited to the post of Apprentice Electrical Technician and 16 year old Richard Le Marquand was appointed as an Apprentice Vehicle Technician. Matt and Richard both impressed the selection board with their keenness, maturity and positive attitude in addition to having achieved the required standard of GCSE result.

Both posts include work-based training under the supervision of qualified Technicians in the respective workshops based at the Bellozanne site of TTS, in addition to attending Highlands College on day-release courses to attain the required vocational qualifications. The Department is able to offer a wide range of training experiences to the apprentices and in the past years, several apprentices have gained permanent posts within the Department once qualified, some eventually going on to supervisory and managerial positions.

“Both Richard and Matt have a mature approach to work, an eagerness to learn and work hard and have fitted in well with our teams, said Martin Gautier, Principal Engineer – Support Services. He continued “I am really pleased with their progress and I have every confidence they will continue to do well.”

The two apprentices have now worked for about 5 months within the department. “I was really pleased to have this opportunity within Transport and Technical Services”, said Matt, “I have already learnt a lot. It is good to be part of the team providing the electrical maintenance to keep some of the essential services for the Island up and running.”

“I already knew a bit about commercial vehicles from working with my father,” said Richard, “but here I get the chance to work on other types of vehicles and machinery and I am really enjoying the variety of work.”

Following the success of this venture the Department is planning to recruit an Apprentice Mechanical Technician.