Serving the Teesside Business Community | 49
A FORCE
FOR THE
Apprentices clean up
career progression at
Olympic Tankwash
A
ddressing the long-term skills
requirements of the Tees Valley
workforce is a key priority of
Northern Skills Group.
Working with employers across a range
of sectors, the apprenticeship and training
arm of Middlesbrough College is committed
to providing learners with the skills and
competencies that provide the foundation for
a future career.
“Apprenticeships in particular are so much
more than just a post-16 education option,”
says Paul Graham, director of Apprenticeship
Development. “They are, in fact, a route to
employment and the start of what can be a
very fulfilling career.
“This is as important to employers as
it is to learners because apprenticeships
should form the basis of future workforce
development for businesses, with learners
seamlessly becoming the next generation
of employees after they complete their
training.”
This strategy has ensured Northern Skills
Group achieves high success rates for its
learners with 80.9% completing their training
each year, well above the national average
with the large majority going on to secure
jobs with their employer.
One company where this is very evident
is Billingham-based Olympic Tankwash.
The company is working with Northern
Apprentice Vladislavs
Silcenknovs, pictured with
David Giles and Cory Parker
at Olympic Tankwash, gained
his position with support
from Northern Skills Group.
FUTURE
Skills Group to not just provide training
opportunities and jobs for local young people,
but provide long-term career opportunities
with the business.
It has supported the training of a number
of apprentices who have gone on to secure
jobs with the company as a result of
gaining vital on-the-job practical experience
backed up by recognised national vocational
qualifications.
Olympic Tankwash provides services such
as steam heating, steam cleaning and livery
washing for road tankers to ensure there is
no chemical contamination of tank contents
when transporting different materials.
“At Olympic Tankwash, we are passionate
about giving young people the opportunity to
gain experience and skills in the workplace
rather than from a textbook,” says the
company’s managi ng director, David Giles.
“With over 40 years’ experience in the
industry, I have witnessed an increasing
number of young people leaving education
with no guaranteed employment
opportunities.
“We are therefore committed to improving
this and offering apprenticeships where there
is a definite job at the end of it for the right
candidate.”
Olympic Tankwash recently recruited
17-year-old Vladislavs Silcenknovs to follow
in the footsteps of the company’s previous
apprentices who have progressed to full-time
permanent roles within the business.
Among them is Cory Parker, 23, who
completed his apprenticeship with Northern
Skills Group in 2017 and is now enjoying full-
time employment at the company as a wash
bay operative.
After originally starting in a Level 1
Construction multi-skilled group, assessors
at Northern Skills Group were astounded by
Vladislavs’ commitment to learning and his
determination to overcome challenges with
maths and English.
This encouraged Northern Skills Group to
put him forward for the Cleaning and Support
Services Level 2 apprenticeship, which allows
learners to gain experience in working at
heights, operating forklift trucks and working in
enclosed spaces.
Darren Thrower, assessor at Northern Skills
Group, adds: “Vladislavs has demonstrated
his perseverance, not only with industry-
specific skills such as working at heights and in
enclosed spaces, but has vastly improved his
academic learning with support from Northern
Skills Group. He has certainly proved himself
as an asset to the team at Olympic Tankwash.
“The company’s commitment to improving
employment prospects for young people
is inspiring and is a great example of how
apprentices can contribute to a business’
future workforce.”