Redundant call centre workers start process apprenticeships

Wilton, UK - Four former UK call centre workers are engineering an exciting new future  for themselves in manufacturing industry following the disappointment of redundancy. The four have joined Sembcorp UK as process technicians on a two-year adult apprenticeship programme, funded and organised by the Government's new National Apprenticeship Service (NAS).

Steven Wilkes, 30, Stuart Slater, 26, Stacey Ritchie, 22 and Nick Tann, 20, all from Redcar, have swapped headsets for hand tools since leaving the OC5 call centre at Wilton International site last September. The centre, owned by Sembcorp, was forced to close following a decision by Centrica, its sole client, to transfer the work to its headquarters 200 miles away for business reasons.

Now, after passing a rigorous selection process and completing a four-day Engineering Experience workshop to gain an insight into general engineering and process techniques, the four have completed a 16-week intensive training programme with a local training provider TTE Technical Training - a key milestone on the road to becoming full process technicians.

Since February they have been working full time on Sembcorp's utilities assets at Wilton, including two industrial power stations and a water treatment plant, as well as studying towards National Vocational Qualifications (NVQs) in Process Technology.

"At the end of the day, whether you work in a call centre or work in a power station, it's about the same thing – satisfying the customer," said Wilkes. "Our experience demonstrates that Apprenticeships like this are not just for school leavers. The training at TTE was interesting and informative and has already given us each a recognised qualification, a Level 2 Certificate in Process Technology.

We're now really enjoying the practical, hands-on training we're receiving in the workplace while enhancing our qualifications at the same time."

According to George Ritchie, senior vice president of Sembcorp UK, the former call centre workers have proved that they have skills which can be adapted to a new career, along with the capability to be first class process technicians.

"Apprenticeships provide a win-win situation for employers and individuals. They give employers people with the right skills to improve productivity and take their business forward. They also give individuals the chance to do a real job and earn a wage whilst gaining new vocational skills and a nationally recognised qualification."