2020 was a particularly difficult time for everyone, especially those leaving school and wanting to find employment. Wealden Works helps young people find work in the Wealden area even with the continued effects the coronavirus pandemic is having on our economy.

One of the many successes we had in the Weald in 2020 was with Harrison who completed one of our virtual courses that was advertised to Year 11 school leavers in our area in the period of Lockdown.

Harrison and his parents enquired about Harrison starting the course soon after his 16th birthday. He was about to leave Heathfield Community School in the July and he wanted to be part of an apprenticeship scheme rather than carry onto a local college.
Harrison signed up to a 3-week course, which due to the circumstances of 2020, had to be delivered online. The modules included work and life skills and discussions about his interests’ hobbies and possible local opportunities that matched his skillset and interests.

Following the completion of the online modules, Harrison attended a face-to-face meeting with the staff at Wealden Works where he expressed an interest in starting a trade-based apprenticeship.

He was certain that further education was not something he wanted to consider but saw himself in a practical role learning and earning a wage at the same time. We spent time with Harrison constructing a CV with this in mind and Harrison drew on his past experiences and work he had done helping his parents and grandparents.

On a second meeting with Harrison, he arrived with a job advert in hand ‘Landscaping Apprentice, Frogheath Landscapes’, he put the advertisement on the table and said, ‘I would like to work there.’ With this kind of attitude, we were desperate to help and get him that first interview.

Wealden Works and Frogheath Landscaping have an established relationship working together over the past 9 years. Frogheath had previously taken on a number of Wealden Work’s apprentices and understood the barriers young people face when living in a rural location and engaged well with these young people.

When we spoke with Frogheath the position had already been filled, but as usual Frogheath were keen to help and offered to meet Harrison and thought they could potentially offer him a little work experience with a view to gaining a reference.

Frogheath were delighted with Harrison’s attitude and work ethic when they met him, so they offered him a week’s trial which he snapped up! The very same attitude and work ethic came through in the week’s trial and Harrison was subsequently offered an apprenticeship as a Landscape gardener.

Project manager at Frogheath Hayley Wood is thrilled Wealden Works sent Harrison their way: