A WARRINGTON apprentice’s day in the office took a surprise turn when his boss asked him to pop along and see an important visitor.
Twenty-year-old Scott Robinson, from Orford, found himself face-to-face with Prime Minister David Cameron, during his visit this week to water firm United Utilities’ HQ in Warrington.
The Prime Minister was discussing investment, training and getting people back to work – and Scott was one of six United Utilities’ trainees selected to meet him personally.
Scott, a second year apprentice scientist, said: “I didn’t know I was going to meet him until about an hour before. I was a bit nervous but he was really easy-going and he listened to what you said. He asked me what my apprenticeship was in and what I studied at college.”
While at United Utilities, the Premier also met chief executive Steve Mogford and spent 45 minutes answering employees’ questions at a specially convened Q&A session next to the lake at Lingley Mere.
The company’s head of organisational development Louise Beardmore said UK plc needed to create new types of apprenticeships for the new skills businesses would need in the future.
“Apprenticeships are not just a three-year scheme. They’re the start of a life-long career and in the utility industry that can still mean a job for life and many open doors. Many of our most senior managers started as apprentices” she said.
“I talked to Mr Cameron about the programme we’re leading to help people in the North West back into work. He was interested to hear how important it is that we attract youngsters with basic levels of maths, English and science.
“In November we are opening our own technical training centre so we can carry out all the training we need in house, which is great news, because by then we will have more than 100 apprentices on our books. Even better, we’ve also received accreditation from the National Apprentice Service to enable us to deliver apprenticeships for other companies as well.”
Pictured: United Utilities apprentices (from left) Scott Robinson, Laura Conroy and Ben Thompson with Prime Minister David Cameron.
The day the PM came to call
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About Author
Gary Skentelbery
Experienced journalist for more than 40 years. Managing Director of magazine publishing group with three in-house titles and on-line daily newspaper for Warrington. Experienced writer, photographer, PR consultant and media expert having written for local, regional and national newspapers. Specialties: PR, media, social networking, photographer, networking, advertising, sales, media crisis management. Chair of Warrington Healthwatch Director Warrington Chamber of Commerce Patron Tim Parry Johnathan Ball Foundation for Peace. Trustee Warrington Disability Partnership. Former Chairman of Warrington Town FC.
