7 May 2020 – ESL Update

Colleagues
Today I received a note from Anne Day, a truly remarkable and treasured Training Officer who is soon to be retiring after a 14 year career with the On Site Team. Anne has kindly written a short piece which captures the deep commitment and amazing work of all the Training Officers – working together to recruit and nurture so many young apprentices that progress to rewarding construction careers in Bristol and beyond:

“The coronavirus has certainly made my last few months of working life eventful and given me time to think about the past 14 years with On Site. I’ve never worked from home before and haven’t particularly enjoyed it as I have missed my colleagues and meeting our apprentices face to face, it just isn’t quite the same over the phone.

I joined On Site on a fixed term contract in 2006 to manage the Constructive ESF Project. The aim was to provide long term unemployed candidates with the opportunity to improve employability by providing training to pass the CSCS test and work placements which hopefully would lead to sustainable employment in the construction sector. The kindest thing I can say is that it was a rollercoaster ride but at the end of it I was lucky enough to secure a position with On Site as a training officer.

I’ve been thinking a lot about the jobs I have done since leaving school, only seven of them, and I can honestly say On Site has been the best experience. I have thoroughly enjoyed working with young people – at my age you really have heard it all before! Watching them grow and mature (usually) from 16 years when we first meet to handing out certificates at 20 is amazing. I have had numerous apologies over the years for behaviour a 20 year old can look back and think was unacceptable but we shake hands and I am very happy to wish them all well in their future careers.

Of course, the apprentices and employers are vital to the work On Site does but so is our dedicated team. I can honestly say I have never not wanted to get up and go to work, whether it’s bouncing ideas off each other, talking through problems that crop up, sharing information, moaning about phones and IT equipment, we help and support each other and there is always time for a laugh or two. This comes to an end for me in July and I know I will miss my colleagues/friends but I know On Site will continue to weather any storms in its path and continue to provide a quality service. It’s not the beginning of the end for me just the end of the beginning!”

Anne, on behalf of the ESL team, I’d to thank you for all your care, hard work, and achievements. Thanks too for sharing this insight into the work of your remarkable team.
Best wishes

Jane Taylor