The first ten recruits to a new apprenticeship scheme in high-risk safety management have graduated from their initial training with flying colours and joined the on-site protection team at one of Teesside’s major companies.
CFB Risk Management has a contract to provide site protection services at Ineos Nitriles at Seal Sands where the ten Apprentice Site Protection Officers have now been placed.
Aged between 19 and 27, the apprentices come from across Tees Valley and were selected from more than 100 applicants. Their families and senior Cleveland Fire Brigade management heard them praised highly at a graduation ceremony to mark the end of their initial training course.
Course Manager Davey Veitch, said: “I am very proud of all of them and couldn’t have asked for any more as they all gave 150% throughout the course. They have shown a high level of maturity, commitment and effort and earned themselves the respect of everyone who came into contact with them at the Training Centre.
“It has been a great start to our new Apprenticeship Scheme and bodes well for the future as it is vital we maintain the highest level of skill in our workforce. “
The 18-month apprenticeships will now continue with time spent as part of the operational on-site protection team and studying at a local College to gain the relevant qualifications.
Richard Smedley, aged 22 from Sedgefield, said: “I have really enjoyed the initial training and am looking forward to being on-site at Ineos Nitriles. This apprenticeship is a fantastic opportunity to acquire the skills I need for a very worthwhile career. Having already had some experience as a retained fire-fighter I knew it was something I really wanted to do and was delighted to win a place when there was so much competition.”
The apprentices are Jack McTiernan and Richard Jones from Middlesbrough; Richard Smedley, Sedgefield; Jack Walker and Ryan Teschner, Redcar; Joel McAllister, Skelton; Josh Brown, Marske; Jack Peacock, Darlington; Jordan Craddy, Hartlepool and Thomas Pattison from Billingham.
They were previously employed in jobs ranging from tailoring, joinery and pathology to customer services and lifeguard roles whilst others recently graduated from university.
CFB Risk Management provides a range of risk management services to blue-chip companies operating in the high hazard sector, including oil and gas, petrochemical and nuclear to protect their workforce, premises and production.
A growing number of contracts in the UK, Europe and the Middle East are taking the community interest company’s turnover to £2m with profits going back into supporting projects that improve safety for the Teesside community.