CONSTRUCTION students from Warrington & Vale Royal College will be setting the standard for Vinci Construction UK’s £100 million redevelopment of Warrington town centre, thanks to an exciting new partnership involving the two organisations.
Carpenter Patrick Timoney and bricklayers Shaun Tyrer and John Brennan will have a key role to play in the Academy Way development – which begins this month – after being offered full-time apprenticeships with Vinci.
On securing the apprenticeship, former Cardinal Newman pupil Patrick, 16, said: “I’m really looking forward to starting, but I’m nervous too. It’s a great opportunity for us!”
Former Birchwood High School pupil Shaun, 16, added: “I owe a lot to my tutors at Warrington & Vale Royal College. They have given the skills and knowledge to prove I can do this.”
36 year old John said: “I am really excited about this opportunity and securing this apprenticeship. The college has helped me so much. The support I have had from my tutors Andy, Carl and Simon has been incredible. I’m so grateful for this opportunity. To be able to secure an apprenticeship with Vinci is great and something I couldn’t have done without the college.”
Warrington & Vale Royal College’s partnership with Vinci has also seen the construction firm donate 25 sets of PPE equipment, as well as bricks and door frames for students to work with.
Joiners and bricklayers from the college were also given the chance to visit Vinci’s construction site in Warrington, before taking part in trials with the company – which led to Shaun, John and Patrick being offered the apprenticeships.
Faye Hennessey, Work Placement Officer at the college, said: “This is an excellent opportunity for the college and for our students to be part of a £100 million re-development in Warrington. We have extensive industry links with a number of companies within the construction industry and it is fantastic to add Vinci to that list.
“Not only has this partnership allowed three of our students to secure full-time apprenticeships, it will also benefit our current and future students through the donation of vital equipment and materials that will enhance their learning experience.”
Paul Turner, Senior Project Manager at Vinci, said: “I am as excited as the apprentices about delivering this project. It’s not often we in the industry get the opportunity to work so closely with the community, as we have here at Warrington. As a bricklayer by trade it’s important for me to bring through the next generation tradesmen and women. Hopefully I’ll inspire one of the apprentices on this project to go on to project manage their own town centre development in the future.”
To find out more about the exciting opportunities available at Warrington & Vale Royal College, visit wvr.ac.uk.
