A former participant in Derry City and Strabane District Council's Apprenticeship Programme has landed a job at a local manufacturing company.

Omagh woman Victoria Pratt used her experience on the programme to grab a full-time post at Kenwell Engineering.

Victoria went to Loreto Grammar School where she was encouraged by a careers advisor at school to explore the options of an apprenticeship.

"I thought apprenticeships involved bricklaying and electrician work and didn't think girls really did apprenticeships," she said at the time. "I was under the impression there would be very few options for apprenticeships, but it turns out that there were actually loads of opportunities."

-- Advertisement --

With the help of Strabane Training Services Victoria secured a part-time job with Russells - a shoe shop operating in Omagh for 111 years.

Earning while she learned, Victoria gained a Level 2 Diploma in Customer Service and is now in a Level 3 Business Admin Role with Kenwell Engineering where she carries out front of house, administration and marketing duties.

Commenting on the success of the programme, Kenwell Director Gareth Kenwell said: "Because the Apprenticeship Programme is delivered on site at Kenwell Engineering, our staff get very real and relevant training which is tailored to each one of them. 

"It has helped me to both recruit and retrain staff, some of whom were from other industry backgrounds."

A spotlight on Victoria's journey as an apprentice comes as Derry City and Strabane District Council prepares to take part in Northern Ireland's first ever Apprenticeship Week next week.

Apprenticeship Week, which is co-ordinated centrally by the Department for the Economy and supported by Councils, education providers and training providers across Northern Ireland, will take place from 03-07 February.

(CM/JG)