Before starting his training at the Seymour Skills Academy in Sept 2020, John Cooper used to work in the logistics sector as a warehouse operative. While he was happy to be employed after finishing college, the work was very ungratifying, and he felt as though he wasn’t progressing into a fulfilling career as he wanted to. Because of this, he began looking for a way to find employment in a new industry where he could find more fulfilment in the work he did.
John had no previous experience of working within the construction sector and therefore lacked a number of key skills and industry qualifications to support sustainable employment within the industry. However, when John learned about the Seymour Skills Academy ‘Gateway to Construction Training Programme’, he saw this as an excellent opportunity to begin a new career in the construction industry.
“I knew it would allow me to learn the basics of working safely on a construction site as well as getting a better understanding of what would be expected of me to become an effective and reliable member of the industry’s workforce.”
From the outset, John showed positive attitude and commitment towards his training whilst at the academy. He was keen to progress his skills and knowledge and really enjoyed the hands-on approach to learning new skills in a ‘real life’ construction environment.
John was nominated as candidate for a new Apprentice Groundworker position at Seymour in Jan 21 and following interview was offered the position. John saw this as an opportunity that would give him the support and encouragement to achieve his original goal to be successful in a new career and industry.
Whilst John was completing his Apprenticeship, management and site staff at Seymour recognised his excellent work ethic and clear potential to progress further within the business. As a result, in Sept 2022, John was offered the opportunity to progress his career to the next level and start a new Apprenticeship in Civil Engineering.
John has acknowledged since starting at Seymour that he has learnt much about the construction industry and has been well supported by both Seymour’s experienced team who are mentoring him in his new role and by Hartlepool College of Further Education Tutors during his ‘off the job’ apprentice training.
“I have been a part of numerous projects where I have been tasked with a variety of different roles. Some of these include plant operator and banksman at the Teesworks Project, service detection and avoidance at Strabag’s HS2 Tunnel Segment Factory in Hartlepool and assisting pipe layers in the installation of new storm drainage on the A1 Birtley Road Expansion. These projects have required me to utilise both the training from the academy and what I had picked up and learned from previous sites to carry out these tasks safely and efficiently.”