Ben Harpham, paving his way to a successful career

-

We thought it would be nice to wrap the year with a good news story from the Academy Challenge trophy winners, Rotherham Skills Academy.

Ben Harpham, who completed his 4-week Skills Bootcamp in Bricklaying programme towards the end of October, set the benchmark in bricklaying, and his wall has remained erected since his departure to inspire all the new learners.

Ben, who lives in Maltby, already had his Green CSCS card but wanted to get into a specific construction trade. He told us that he’d done labouring in the past, for cash in hand, and then warehousing for a while. Finding himself unemployed, Ben decided that he want to get into bricklaying as it was something that he enjoyed, and that he was naturally good at.

He said: “I missed the construction environment, and all the people I have met while doing this course have been overwhelming. At the start, Peter Riley helped me through all the questions I had, and Steve (Stephen Wood) did more of the practical side with me. They’ve taught me so much collectively.”

Like many of the other learners that pass through our academy doors, Ben enthused that he would eventually like to set up his own business. “I’d like to work for myself”, he said. “But in the meantime, I’m going to get as much experience as possible.”

[Ben is pictured on the right in pic 1, and left in pic two, with Tutor Steve Wood]

He was unable to answer his phone yesterday, as he was busy working, but we are hoping to update you next year on where his new found skills took him. With a wonderful learning attitude and an unbelievably skillful pair of hands, in the meantime we wish Ben a wealth of luck with every aspect of his future.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

From Strangers to Supporters: How One Act of Kindness Can Change Lives

-
Image
Sometimes, the smallest act of kindness can set off a chain of events that changes more than one life. It all began on a rainy Sunday in Peterborough. Brandon Cox , out of work himself, pulled up outside a local Co-Op in his van. Outside, huddled beneath a duvet and the downpour, was a man named Decan. But instead of asking for spare change, Decan Wallis approached Brandon with a request that stopped him in his tracks. “I don’t suppose you have any labourer jobs going, mate? I’m desperate to work hard and get off the streets. I’ll do it for £60 a day.” Brandon later shared that moment on LinkedIn, writing about how humbled he felt. Here was someone in the toughest of circumstances, asking not for handouts, but for the chance to work. “I’ve never felt so humbled in my life,” Brandon wrote. “There are real, genuine people out there struggling who just want an opportunity.” What Brandon didn’t expect was how far that post would travel — or how it would change both their lives. 💛 A Chance...
Read more

Celebrating the Opening of Collyhurst Community Skills Centre

-
Image
At the Skills People Group, we are thrilled to announce the official opening of the Collyhurst Community Skills Centre-a new facility dedicated to empowering local residents through hands-on training and vital upskilling opportunities. This exciting project, developed in partnership with Manchester City Council, YES Manchester and the Victoria-North Development, marks a significant step toward addressing unemployment and boosting employability in Collyhurst and the wider Manchester area.  A Space for Learning and Growth  We're proud to say that the new centre offers a variety of flexible spaces designed for practical training and real­world application. The building features an indoor classroom where learners will take part in courses that combine theory with hands-on experience, laying the groundwork for successful careers in construction and other trades. Just outside, we will be creating a dedicated bricklaying area for learners to hone their craft and master key skills in ...
Read more

Skills Academies Christmas Challenge Countdown Calendar

-
Image
Christmas is almost here, and the excitement is growing in our academies as we stretch and challenge our learners to design something spectacular for this year's Academy Christmas Challenge!  Using all the theoretical and practical learning from the skills training programmes that our learners are progressing on, this exercise will enable them to further enhance their trade, teamwork, and personal skills, whilst allowing them to produce something they are immensely proud of. We'll be posting teaser snippets of the progress of each academies project, concentrating on one academy per day, without giving too much away, and when their challenge is complete, we'll be running an internal vote and revealing the results from last place through to first place on the last five days of countdown. We hope you enjoy our festive Christmas challenge calendar and look forward to receiving all your comments! With festive wishes from the Academy Team!! 🎄
Read more