News: Construction apprenticeship helps Ewan build his future

As of February 2018, Nottingham College has 1,611 apprentices in total. Of this figure, nearly 600 are in construction.

Nottingham City Council, Derby Homes and Arup are among the main organisations that employ over 400 apprentices at our college.

Find out about the success of one of our college’s apprentices below:

Seventeen year old Ewan Gregg from Colwich in Nottingham started his construction journey in September 2016, when he enrolled on the Level 2 Plumbing and Heating apprenticeship course.

Beginning at the Basford site of the college and then moving onto the Beeston site, Ewan chose the course as he had the passion to gain experience within the construction industry from an established college, whilst also earning an income.

His plumbing course requires him to undertake practical and theory based learning one day a week at college and to spend the remainder of the week (four days) working as a paid apprentice for M & S Plumbing and Heating in Gedling – his assigned place of work.

Speaking of his apprenticeship experience, Ewan said:

“I’ve always wanted to be an apprentice from my time at school, especially because you can start earning money straightway unlike what would happen if you were just studying on a full time course. I started working as an apprentice at Milspec in Basford for six months and following that I’ve been with M &S.

“Among other things, since being an apprentice, I’ve had to record statements about my experience, taken exams, put together a practical visual portfolio of the work that I have been involved with at M & S and my boss has enabled me to get involved in a variety of tasks like fixing and fitting boilers and toilets in people’s homes. It can be hard work but it’s also very rewarding when you “get the job done!”

Ewan feels that his course and work experience as an apprentice have been invaluable to his learning and feels that he is developing good grounding to his dream of having his own plumbing business in the future.

“I think that the facilities, tools and other equipment, learning and tutors have been great at the college and are really helping me get a good understanding of what it’s like to have a full time job and career within plumbing,” Ewan added.

So far, Ewan is on course for a successful completion of his apprenticeship, which is due to finish this September (2018). He has received positive feedback from both his tutors and boss about his plumbing ability.