Ryan McBride, IT apprenctice at Vista
We’re helping to create employment opportunities across Merseyside through a social regeneration scheme.
We’re a member of Re:allies, a division of not for profit company Procure Plus, which helps regenerate and manage sustainable homes and environments. One of our responsibilities is to supply products to help repair and upkeep thousands of properties across the North of England.
As part of a pledge to regenerate local communities, we’re offering at least two local people sustainable employment or training opportunities for every £1m received through Re:allies.
Keith Sadler, managing director of Vista, comments: “Our partnership with Re:allies means we can support our local community, helping people into sustainable employment or giving them the skills they need to progress in their chosen career. In turn, this is helping to fuel the local economy, creating a win-win situation for residents and businesses.”
Apprenticeships at Vista
Ryan McBride, a student from Birkenhead, has been working at Vista since July and is the first apprentice to be supported by the Re:allies partnership. Since starting his apprenticeship Ryan has embarked on an 18-month level three qualification in IT at Wirral Metropolitan College, and in between studying he will be working as part of the Vista team on various IT projects.
Ryan commented: “I’ve had an interest in ICT from a young age and have been studying the subject ever since. I applied for the role with Vista as I knew it would cover a wide range of different areas, from computer maintenance and software installation to coding forms and procedures – giving me the chance to broaden my knowledge and experience.”
Keith says apprenticeship schemes could also help the skills shortage that’s hitting the fenestration industry:
“Apprenticeships are a great way to encourage young people to enter the industry and by opening up more of these opportunities it’s not just helping the unemployment problems in the UK, it’s also filling the skills gap that’s becoming a real issue in the fenestration and wider construction industries.”
