South Somerset District Council

Somerset

Rich Davy

Streetscene Co-ordinator

Apprentices have a far better chance of getting a job than better-qualified rivals because of the practical experience they have, according to a high-profile employer in Somerset.

Rich Davy, Streetscene Co-ordinator for South Somerset District Council, says apprentices will always have the advantage in a hands-on department like his.

“There are people coming out of college contacting us for jobs who have fantastic qualifications, but we can’t employ them because they have no practical experience at all,” he says.

“You can’t send someone out to a 100-foot tree to sort it out if they don’t have practical experience under their belts.

“All my team of arborists have come from apprenticeships. The team leader started as one. We think apprenticeships are really important because we have recruited them right through the chain.

“We’ve put a lot of emphasis on apprenticeships because it’s the best way to learn the trade and the way to go.”

He’s particularly proud of arboriculture apprentice Dan Gould, who is already climbing the career ladder in his new job as a tree climber for the council.

He has left Kingston Maurward College in Dorchester after completing his level 2 apprenticeship, although the 17-year-old has returned to the campus part-time to take courses in tree climbing and chainsaw skills.

Dan left school with few GCSEs and had struggled academically because of his dyslexia.

“Dan has done very well and has been appointed to a full-time job,” says Mr Davy. “He was head and shoulders above everyone we interviewed.

“We’re working closely with Kingston Maurward and he’s been getting on-the-job training.

“It was different when I was learning. I had to get two years of experience then leave the council to go to college for two years before coming back. But Dan has been able to keep in employment.”

Kingston Maurward College