Training

Student Testimonials

David Mateer - catering apprentice

David Mateer's apprenticeship at City of Bath College has seen him perfect more than just his cooking - he has also improved his English and maths skills.

David, 17, said: "My English and maths wasn't as good as I wanted it to be, so I've been working hard to improve these as well as my cooking.

"I've recently passed all my English and maths exams and I'm really pleased with how I've done. I have also passed all eight of my online technical certificate exams, based on the theory of catering."

David works as a junior chef at the Travellers Rest restaurant in Pensford, just outside Bristol. On a usual day he can be expected to cook a range of mouth-watering dishes, from lasagne and garlic chicken to popular English fare such as mixed grills and pies.

"I've found the course at City of Bath College really good," said David. "The majority of the course is hands-on which is so important. You practice things in the kitchen that you take back to work and which can improve the job you do.

"The course has given me so many important skills - you learn something new every week.

"The tutors are very supportive and there are very good facilities to learn in - the kitchens are big and there is all the equipment that you need.

"Taking an apprenticeship has definitely been the right decision for me and it is something that I would recommend to other people starting out in their careers."

Pictured above: David Mateer

Sadie Cross - business administration apprentice

Starting a career in business administration has been child's play for Sadie Cross, an apprentice administration assistant who works at two of Bath and North East Somerset Council's Children Centres.

Sadie, 18, is responsible for a host of office-based duties, including preparing invoices, minute taking, writing and designing information leaflets, booking rooms and dealing with customer enquiries.

Her time is split between Walcot Children's Centre and St Martin's Garden Children's Centre which, she said, provides a lot of variety to her job.

"Working at two different centres means I have to deal with very different challenges, and that means there is a lot of variety in my job," said Sadie.

"I really enjoy the role. I meet and work with a lot of different people and I've been encouraged to use my own initiative to deal with challenges when they arise which has made me a much more confident person."

Sadie said that her apprenticeship had allowed her to make a good start to her career.

"I'd like to move up to office manager level one day and this apprenticeship has allowed me to keep training while working as an administrator. I'm currently working towards an NVQ Level 2 in business administration and hope to keep training for Level 3 to improve my qualifications.

"The training and support from City of Bath College has been really good and the staff are friendly and approachable.

"I'm so glad that I decided to take up an apprenticeship. The mix of work and training has been ideal and has given me a good grounding to go on and make the most of my career."

Pictured above: Sadie Cross

Elliot Lamb - refrigeration and air conditioning apprentice

Elliot Lamb, 23, is a second-year apprentice at City of Bath College studying Refrigeration and Air Conditioning.

He is employed by Total Environmental Network in Bridgwater but studies at the College one day a week.

Elliot - who is set to compete in the national SkillFridge competition - said he was enjoying his apprenticeship and the course had helped him with his day to day work.

"I've found the course very useful. In particular it has taught me a lot about the theory of refrigeration which has helped me to better understand how systems work. It's also helped me with identifying faults with air conditioning equipment - something I need to do daily when I'm servicing systems."

He added that he had found an apprenticeship had been the right route for him.

"I'm a plumber by trade but found myself doing more and more air conditioning installations, so coming to the College as an apprentice was ideal. It's meant I've been able to update my skills while still earning money.

"The facilities in the workshops here at the College are very good and the lecturers are very knowledgeable."

Pictured above: Elliot Lamb

Aaron Short - carpentry apprentice 

Aaron Short's most recent building project is enough to make his fellow carpentry students green with envy - he's just finished helping to build a groundbreaking £2million eco-friendly house in Bath.

Considered to be one of the ‘greenest' homes in the country, Aaron and his colleagues at All Building Matters helped to construct the property, which comes complete with solar panels and a state-of-the-art heat recovery system that dramatically reduces energy use.

Aaron, 19, said: "It was the first time I've been involved in a project like this, but it was great experience for me.

"I've learnt a lot of the skills that I need to do my job by working on site, but City of Bath College has helped me perfect those skills."

Aaron, who has just passed his final assessment for the National Diploma in Construction, said he had benefitted from his time at the College.

"The facilities here are very good. The course covers a lot and is very well organised," he said.

"The tutors are very knowledgeable and through the College you get to meet a lot of people and make new contacts which can lead to good business opportunities.

"Taking up an apprenticeship in carpentry has definitely been the right thing for me. Learning a trade means that you have a skill for life and is something you can take with you wherever you go."

Pictured above: Aaron Short

Emily Pierce - customer services apprentice

Starting a customer service apprenticeship has seen Emily Pierce take up an important position within Bath and North East Somerset Council's Children's Services department.

The ‘One Team' is responsible for logging and updating details of each child attending a school within B&NES, ensuring the information is kept continuously up to date. The type of information kept on the system includes education details and attendance history.

The data collected by the One Team is used by a number of other teams within Children's Services, including admissions and finance, to ensure a streamlined approach to customers.

Emily, 20, who is working towards an NVQ Level 3 in Customer Service said: "I enjoy working in a customer service role. I like helping people and there is a lot of job satisfaction in answering people's queries and making sure they have the help or information that they need.

"I'm hoping that, further down the line, I might be able to take on more ‘front of house' work, meeting people face-to-face and helping to solve their problems and enquiries."

Emily, from Bath, has been attending City of Bath College one day a week to learn a range of skills, from filling in job application forms and interview techniques to the regulations and Acts covering customer service work.

Emily said: "The things I have learnt at College have been very useful and are skills I've found I'm using in my job.

"An apprenticeship has been a really good decision for me. It's helped me to get a job I enjoy, working alongside some great people and is the perfect start for my career."

Pictured above: Emily Pierce

Charlie Babb - sport and recreation apprentice

Charlie Babb has a foot on the first rung of the career ladder after securing an apprenticeship as a Youth Trainee and Recreation Assistant at Bath Sports Centre.

Charlie, 20, from Bath, aims to become a personal trainer and said his apprenticeship has given him the essential skills he needs to build a successful career.

"At the sports centre I am responsible for life-guarding, cleaning the changing rooms and the general upkeep of the building," he said.

"I've also just finished a first aid course and a defibrillation course which have taught me vital life-saving skills - essential when you are working within the sports and fitness sector.

"As well as working at the sports centre I attend City of Bath College once a week where I do more theory-based work. I am working towards a technical certificate as well as learning about important legislation and health and safety."

Charlie said he was enjoying the course and that he wouldn't hesitate to recommend an apprenticeship as a route into a career.

"I have found the course really interesting and feel I am definitely learning things that will help me with my career," he said.

"The staff at the College really know their stuff and make the course interesting.

"I would definitely recommend an apprenticeship to people looking for a way to start their career - it's certainly been the right choice for me."

Pictured above: Charlie Babb

 

Montserrat Cervantes - health and social care apprentice

After spending several years waitressing at bars and clubs in London and Bath to improve her English, Montserrat Cervantes decided she wanted to begin a full-time career.

Montserrat, 36 from the Catalan region of Spain, applied for a Health Care Assistant apprenticeship at Bath's Royal United Hospital. Within two months she had got the job and had started working.

"As a Health Care Assistant I work alongside the nurses, helping them with a range of tasks including washing and turning patients, as well as emptying bed pans - which isn't the most glamorous part of the job!," she said.

"I currently work in the stroke unit which is very challenging. But there is a lot of job satisfaction, especially when a patient you have been caring for starts to show signs of improving. You feel you have contributed to that, even in a small way."

Montserrat said that starting an apprenticeship had been the right decision for her.

"I really enjoy my job and feel that I am looking forward and moving on with my career. I am learning all the time, working towards an NVQ Level 2 and improving my communication skills at the same time.

"I have applied to university to do a degree in nursing and should be starting next year.

"This apprenticeship has given me the opportunity to improve and further myself as a person, while learning skills that I can take with me into a career.

"All the staff at City of Bath College and at the RUH have been very supportive. The College's Information, Advice and Guidance Team helped me apply to university and talked me through the process and everyone has encouraged me to succeed."

Pictured above: Montserrat Cervantes

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