20 | Aycliffe Today Business
Finley Structures Managing Director John
Finley and HR Manager Pauline Hadwin with
youngsters from Woodham Academy.
“It’s also good to give
something back to the local
community and working
with Woodham Academy is
always a pleasure.
”
FINLEY APPRENTICESHIP
DISPLAY WINS AWARD
Finley Structures were winners in
Woodham Academy's third annual
Apprenticeship Awareness Programme
2014.
The Finley team's display was named the
best presentation, with fellow Aycliffe firm
Ebac winning the overall award.
Six high-profile businesses spent nine
weeks taking part in the successful scheme,
which is part-funded by the Great Aycliffe and
Middridge Partnership (GAMP) and brings
education and business together.
Finley, along with Shepherd Construction,
Ebac, Gestamp Tallent, livin and Thorn
Lighting, took part in the 2014 competition
which is now in its third year.
More than 100 year 9 students took part
in a carousel of workshops, dubbed “speed
networking” when the companies involved
,
gave the youngsters a short insight into what
they do.
The tutor groups were then allocated
one firm which they will visit and get to
know more about them and Apprenticeship
opportunities.
After visiting the firm, businesses made
several return visits to Woodham to help
young people put together a presentation,
which were delivered during a special
evening at the school, when our display
came out top.
HR manager Pauline Hadwin said: "We're
delighted to have won best display.
"The Apprenticeship Awareness
Programme is very important to us. It helps
us to engage with local youngsters and give
them an insight into our world and industry.
"It's also good to give something back
to the local community and working with
Woodham Academy is always a pleasure."
Woodham head teacher Christine Forsyth
said: “It’s great that children have had the
opportunity to go and see businesses first
hand and find out what opportunities are out
there.
“It’s also been a real pleasure to have local
firms working with our young people. I think
they’ve learned a lot about what schools do.
”
Children from Easterside Academy sign the last piece of steel at the Middlesbrough
Sports Village, which has been constructed by Finley Structures.
YOUNGSTERS SIGN
FINLEY STEEL
Schoolchildren have left a lasting legacy
on a major new sporting venue in the
region which is being constructed by
Finley Structures.
Budding athletes from Easterside
Academy in Middlesbrough have seen their
signatures immortalised in the structure
of the main sports building at the new £18
million Middlesbrough Sports Village.
Finley constructed the steel frame of
the building on behalf of main contractors
Willmott Dixon.
And 12 pupils from Easterside signed one
of the last sections of steel to form part of
the new Hub building.
"It's been a fantastic opportunity for the
children to come along, see how the building
is coming on and also to
put their names on to the
structure," said Easterside
teacher Delyth Linacre
who accompanied the
youngsters.
"When completed the Sports
Village will create lots of wonderful
opportunities for our children and their
families."
Easterside Academy is also one of the
l