EAST?Hampshire’s MP got a close-up view of how the district council’s apprenticeship scheme is working for one young apprentice and the company he works for.

Damain Hinds’ visit came ahead of National Apprenticeship Week. The scheme supports more than 30 apprentices around the district by supplementing wages and contributing to travel and training costs.

To mark apprenticeship week, district councillor Nick Drew and Mr Hinds met Kieran Wilding, who works at Redialed, specialist plastic and rubber engineers in Alton.

They were given a tour of the premises and discovered how East Hampshire District Council’s (EHDC) apprenticeship scheme has helped both the business and the apprentice.

Kieran joined the company in August 2014 and has been hands on learning about the different engineering processes. The apprenticeship has linked the company to Alton College, where Kieran first studied for an engineering BTEC, and is now doing an engineering foundation degree, which adds real value to his training.

Mr Hinds said apprenticeship schemes such as the ones run by East Hampshire District Council were a “key part” of the country’s long-term economic plan.

“East Hampshire District Council’s apprenticeship scheme is an innovative and practical way to help businesses and young people in the area,” he said.

“Our visit to Rediweld and our meeting with Kieran really brought home how the scheme works in practice.

“Apprenticeships are a really important route to employment for many young people and it is great that EHDC has taken such an active role in promoting and supporting them in East Hampshire.”

Mr Drew, portfolio holder for economic development at the Petersfield-based district council, said: “The idea behind EHDC’s apprenticeship scheme is to make it as easy as possible for businesses to take on apprentices.

“We need to make sure the funding is available to companies and make sure there are plenty of positions for apprentices to take up. We have been impressed by the number of young people who have come to us and asked us to help them find placements. There is obviously a big demand for apprenticeships out there.

“Our scheme brings together employers, apprentices, colleges and all the organisations that play a part in making an apprenticeship a success. This is all part of our ambition to be one of the most business-friendly councils in the country.”

Rediweld managing director Roger Marsh said: “As a technical moulder supplying the aerospace sector with plastic and rubber parts, the success of Rediweld relies on the skills of its workforce. An apprenticeship develops these vital skills in the next generation.

“EHDC’s apprenticeship scheme has made it much easier to take on Kieran as an apprentice and to put him through the qualifications we wanted. Without the funding and the support we have received from EHDC, we may not have been able to do it this way.”

Kieran said: “This apprenticeship is giving me a really wide range of experiences. I have been working in a variety of areas around the business which has given me a broad grounding in the basics of engineering.

“I am working towards a degree-level qualification at Alton College but every day I am always learning from the experiences and knowledge of the rest of the team. You don’t get that sort of experience in the classroom.

“And all the time I am learning, I’m also earning a wage. It’s a great way to start a career.”