Cleveland Potash - Apprentice Development
Date posted - 17 Nov 2010
A group of first and fourth year Cleveland Potash apprentices arrived at The Trust's Aberdovey centre in October, full of enthusiasm about their course. The fourth years, who were the lead apprentices, were encouraged to lead and mentor their younger colleagues through a series of tasks and challenges. With each day of the course, the apprentices stepped up to face an ever-increasing level of challenge and their performance improved accordingly. Reflecting on their approach to the challenges they were presented with, the apprentices also looked carefully at how they could improve their individual and team performance.
Day three of the course arrived and the apprentices were ready to take on ‘Exercise Homecoming’, in which they took a leading role in progressing through a number of tasks and challenges. The day brought up a range of valuable learning points and came to a close with the group camping in the centre grounds as a result of them having not completing the exercise fully. In order for the apprentices to transfer their learning from the course to the workplace, clear links were highlighted between their performance during the exercise and their performance in a work situation. By this stage, each of the lead apprentices were responsible for a group of first year apprentices and were tasked with giving them feedback and encouragement to develop in certain areas.
The next day was spent afloat on the Dyfi Estuary, sailing a 14-man vessel and navigating around the tidal waters, working as a team at all times. The pressure was kept up when they returned to the centre and had to review their performance during the day, before planning Thursday’s final challenge. This involved the apprentices navigating themselves from the centre to a drop-off location, then over the highest mountain in the region, safely and as a team. They followed the route they’d planned the night before and negotiated poor weather and limited visibility. The day challenged the apprentices individually and as a team, resulting in it being a true highlight of the course.
Throughout the programme, the apprentices conducted themselves professionally and in a focused manner at all times. They fully engaged with the course and worked hard to achieve its aims and objectives. Without doubt, they did TTE and Cleveland Potash proud. All of the apprentices showed a great deal of learning and progression throughout the course and keenly linked their discoveries to specific work-related situations.
Ian Jewell, Senior Trainer
The Outward Bound Trust, Aberdovey
