Rising star backs apprenticeships

A rising star at a Hartlepool civil engineering company has praised apprenticeships as the future of the industry.
Lewis Hunt.Lewis Hunt.
Lewis Hunt.

Lewis Hunt, 17, who is a management trainee at Seymour Civil Engineering, is also undertaking a level 3 BTEC in Construction in the Built Environment.

He has spoken out about how important apprenticeships are to the future of the construction industry.

Lewis Hunt.Lewis Hunt.
Lewis Hunt.
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Lewis spends one day a week at Hartlepool College of Futher Education studying his BTEC and the rest in Seymour’s main office at Seymour House on the Marina.

“It’s a long day at college. I do 9am until 7pm every Thursday. It’s good though. I can keep up with it alongside my working time at Seymour which is the best part about it,” said Lewis.

He added; “I think to get the full experience of a place of work as well as being paid to learn is brilliant. I get the best of all worlds, college life, a great job, work experience and I get paid.”

He praised his apprenticeship for allowing him to get a foot on the ladder. “Seymour is encouraging me to take my education to degree level. They have that level of trust and loyalty in me. If I wanted to enter into tendering or become a site manager they’d help me get through my degree.

Lewis Hunt.Lewis Hunt.
Lewis Hunt.
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“Picking an apprenticeship doesn’t stop you from following your education. In some cases like mine the company you work for actually helps fund your education and encourages you to do your best by allowing you the time and the right environment to learn and grow.”

Seymour was due to attend The Big Apprenticeship Event at Hartlepool College of FE today from 5.30-8pm when they and more than 50 employers would give advice and guidance about careers and apprenticeships.

Lewis, a former St Hild’s Church of England School student, said Seymour “really invest their time in you. I can’t see them spending their time and money on me to not want me to succeed with them. It really makes you feel like you want to succeed and do well.”

He added: “They’re making a big push at the minute in the UK for apprentices and I believe it’s definitely the most beneficial way forward for anyone that wants to learn and work. It offers another route into further education for people.”