The Most Issue 2

| 21 Stuart Roocroft, Manager at Standish Service Station The current pandemic has naturally created a difficult time for everyone. Having only just taken over the business last February, to suddenly see a massive drop in workload due to the pandemic and lockdown situation was scary to say the least and unknown territory for us all. We know the road ahead is definitely going to be challenging. Our Automotive apprentice Jacob came to see us quite soon after I took over looking for a voluntary position to gain some experience with a view to starting an apprenticeship. The uncertainty of the weeks/months ahead helped my decision in giving Jacob the opportunity. After a few uncertain months, business is currently going well, and now Jacob has started his learning at college, I am confident he will become a valuable member of our team. Chris – Level 2 AAT apprentice at Synergy Technology Having recently completed my apprenticeship, I can look back on the experience and say that Preston’s College have been helpful in continuing our communication to our tutor via Microsoft Teams. The college kept in touch through email/phone calls whilst I am furloughed, and they did extremely well in setting up a way in which everyone could continue their apprenticeship at such short notice. With that, I have been able to complete my apprenticeship to the best of my ability and my tutor has been encouraging throughout it all. Even though I am still on furlough, Synergy Technology have been extremely supportive throughout the entirety of all of the lockdown, even though it is a very difficult time. I feel very lucky to be working for a firm like Synergy. Stanley – Level 3 AAT apprentice at Synergy Technology Since the start of lockdown, both Synergy and Preston’s College have been accommodating and provided me with plenty of resources. I have been on furlough for the majority of it, which has given me more time to work on AAT and improve my skills such as Excel. Prior to lockdown, I gained the relevant experience from Synergy Technology in order to complete my apprenticeship. With Preston’s College, we have been given plenty of resources to work through in order to be at the required level. Preston’s College did an absolutely brilliant job in organising our exams in a safe environment and without this, the class would be significantly behind in our studies. I can’t stress the above point enough.