Green fingered apprentices are a hit!

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Wed 26th Sep 2007

Saluting our green fingered students!

Seven green fingered students have proved they've got what it takes as part of a three year training scheme - and they've now been offered permanent jobs at the council. All seven were taken on after leaving school to help encourage more young people to join the organisation - and to fill a gap in horticultural skills in the borough.

After undertaking three years of training, they have now all completed a City and Guilds NVQ level 2 in Amenity Horticulture and have been appointed on a permanent basis.

Cabinet member for the Environment and Sustainability, Councillor Wera Hobhouse said: "I am delighted with what the apprentices have achieved they have done extremely well and are an asset to the council. and am pleased to welcome them to the council on a permanent basis. It's vitally important that we educate and train young people to take an interest in the environment and this initiative to encourage environmental awareness and plug a skills gap has paid off."

The apprentice scheme is set to continue with three more horticultural apprentices currently in post. The scheme sees the apprentices working alongside skilled staff in parks, cemeteries and on the streets to make the borough a cleaner, greener place to be.