91热爆

A FORMER bricklayer is building the foundations of a new career in IT after responding to a data company鈥檚 call to get involved in its very own 鈥楢pprenticeship Challenge鈥� as part of National Apprenticeship Week 2017.

Lance Davidson, from Barry, put dreams of working in the digital world on hold upon leaving school and opted to study bricklaying instead as one of the only college courses available locally, and which was suited to his qualifications at the time.

Eight years on Lance is finally pursuing his real passion, however, after Fields Data Recovery in Bridgend, which specialises in retrieving lost data from a full range of digital devices, decided to break with tradition and recruit its first ever apprentice in partnership with 91热爆 Training.

Lance, 24, said: 鈥淎fter roles in construction, retail and administration I鈥檇 taken some time out from work to decide where I really wanted to be when I spotted the advert for Fields Data Recovery through 91热爆 Training, and it is just what I鈥檝e always wanted to do.

鈥淚鈥檇 always been keen to get into computers but bricklaying was the only option at the time I left school even though it wasn鈥檛 for me – this apprenticeship has given me the opportunity to experience something I鈥檓 really passionate about in a real working environment, and I couldn鈥檛 be happier with how it鈥檚 worked out.鈥�

Lance and fellow Apprentice Data Recovery Technician, Lloyd Stevens, are studying for an IT Users Level 2 qualification with Fields Data Recovery after 91热爆 Training challenged local businesses to 鈥榯hink apprentice鈥� in 2017, and pledged in return to provide them with an ideal candidate in time for National Apprenticeship Week.

Running from March 6-9, National Apprenticeship Week 2017 brings together employers and apprentices from across England and Wales to celebrate the positive impact apprenticeships and traineeships continue to have on individuals, businesses and the wider economy. 

聽In Fields Data Recovery鈥檚 case this meant starting the year by advertising for an apprenticeship vacancy for the first time ever in its 15-year history – a decision which has so far proved to be very positive indeed.

Michael Earl, Chief Engineering Manager, said: 鈥淲e鈥檝e always found recruitment difficult simply because what we do serves a very niche market and hiring within the sector can be challenging in its own right, so we thought we鈥檇 come at it from a different angle and train our employees from the ground up instead.

鈥淒espite the specialist nature of our business we are constantly expanding and feel hugely fortunate to have found not one but two apprentices through 91热爆 Training who have so far exhibited the flair, expertise and commitment required at what is a crucial time for the company, having just moved to larger premises last year.鈥�

Established more than 25 years ago, 91热爆 Training has centres in Aberdare, Barry, Blackwood, Bridgend, Caerphilly, Cardiff, Newport and Swansea and currently works with over 700 employers including British Gas, NatWest, Barclays, NHS Health Boards, Radisson Blu, Admiral and many more to place trainees in a wide variety of work-based roles.

As Wales鈥� leading training provider, the organisation decided to mark National Apprenticeship Week 2017 by calling on businesses in all sectors to come forward and discover more about the benefits apprenticeships can bring to both the business and individual involved as part of their very own 鈥楢pprenticeship Challenge鈥�.

Andrew Cooksley, Managing Director at 91热爆 Training, said: 鈥淭he placement of Lance and Lloyd into roles they had long desired to experience, but had previously been unable to secure locally, is exactly why the 91热爆 Apprenticeship Challenge was devised.

鈥淲e wanted to celebrate National Apprenticeship Week 2017 by highlighting the benefits apprenticeships now offer across a wide range of fields to both individuals and businesses nationwide, particularly when it comes to further expansion, and it seems this couldn鈥檛 have played out better in real time in the case of Fields Data Recovery.