A young father from Little Hulton has left the army after four years of service to pursue a career in painting and decorating. Twenty-year-old Alan Shaw has just begun a two-year Apprenticeship with Salford City College, which will give him a Level 2 Extended Diploma in Painting & Decorating.
“My partner recently gave birth to our first child, and I wanted to provide for my family,” explained Alan. “I decided that an Apprenticeship was the best option as I would be working and earning, whilst gaining a qualification.”
Alan will gain this qualification whilst working for Pendleton Together, where he contributes towards the regeneration of social housing in the Salford area. Whilst most of his time is spent on site with his employer, Alan is also required to spend one day a week at the newly renovated City Skills Sixth Form Centre doing classroom-based training in the construction workshops.
Alan added: “What’s great about my Apprenticeship is that I know I am getting my qualification whilst getting paid, rather than paying to take the course. It also means that I will have the work experience employers are looking for, so I feel as if this has opened a pathway to future jobs and career prospects.
“I would love to stay on at Pendleton Together, or work for a similar company that deals with social housing. The good thing about working in this sector is that there will always be work, so my skills will always be in demand.”
Clive Owen, Alan’s supervisor at Pendleton together, said: “Alan is a very fast learner, and I enjoy being able to pass on my skills and knowledge to him about painting and decorating.
“The great thing about having an apprentice as part of the team is that they are like a blank slate, as they are just starting out in the industry, and this means you are able to mould them to how your team works. I get a great deal of job satisfaction from seeing someone I have taught doing well in their job!”
