National Grid Apprentice Challenge allows locals to ditch wellies
A recent apprentice challenge has seen two accessible raised walkways installed at Heart of England Forest sites.
Founded in 2003, the Heart of England Forest is a charity aimed at preserving and adding to a 7,000-acre forest situated across Worcestershire and Warwickshire. Two of the charity’s sites, Dorothy’s Wood and Coppice Grove, are greatly valued locations for dog-walkers, families and residents but some areas regularly become dangerous and impassable.
Tipton Training Engineer and project leader, Angus Thompson said: “The area worked on at Dorothy’s Wood is a muddy site. The local community have found that when it gets wet they can’t access this section, meaning families with prams or wheelchairs have to walk down the main road to get to the next entrance. As a safety conscious company we were keen to help.”
Each year, our craft apprentices take on a challenge, designed to build team-working skills that will last them throughout their careers. This year’s week-long challenge at the Heart of England Forest sites saw them constructing and installing walkways made from recycled materials.
Apprentice Josh Clarke was a member of the team working at Coppice Grove. He explained some of the problem-solving opportunities the group encountered: “We started building a template for the walkway on location, then realised it was easier to build it where there was more space and move it as a team to where it will stay. Once we established that, it flew. Everyone had their roles and we worked well as a team.”
Heart of England Forest Partnerships Director Karen Woodgate was delighted with what the apprentices achieved: “The team at Heart of England Forest loved visiting the apprentices on their challenge. They had finished everything a day early – how amazing is that?”
Angus also spoke about the importance of community projects: “National Grid invests a great deal in our training schemes, helping to develop our apprentices for their respective roles within the company. The community project helps to develop their skills in applying the company’s core values such as, acting safely, inclusively and with integrity, working with others to find a solution, embracing new ideas and taking personal responsibility to deliver for our customers.
“I am extremely proud of the effort both Dorothy’s Wood and Morgrove Coppice apprentice teams have put into achieving a safer and more accessible walk for anyone wishing to visit these beautiful natural habitats.”