A group of city apprentices topped off a memorable week by witnessing big business in action.
Around a dozen apprentices from training and education specialists PET-Xi – which has just been awarded a £1.1 million contract to support young people across Warwickshire – rounded off Apprentice Week with an early alarm call.
They hosted the board meeting of the Coventry & Warwickshire Champions at their headquarters on the Westwood Business Park.
Coventry and Warwickshire Champions is a powerful network of businesses, organisations and individuals across the area which strives to help develop and promote Coventry and Warwickshire and raise its profile.
The apprentices helped plan the meeting, provided technical support, greeted the board members and joined in networking.
The Board meeting included 16 business leaders including Chairman Les Ratcliffe MBE of Jaguar Land Rover.
Following the meeting, three apprentices spoke with with Ratcliffe, Vice-Chairman Steve Stewart, and Monica Fogarty of Warwickshire County Council, to discuss their plans and gain some expert advice from the Board members.
Apprentice, Elliot Bennett, said: “It was a really interesting morning to see the way the board worked and the business it conducted. To be able to talk to the board directors after also gave us a real insight.
“It’s amazing to see how much I’ve grown as a person since starting my apprenticeship at PET-Xi. My communications skills have improved, my confidence has grown, and the environment I’m working in means I’m offered invaluable advice to help me learn. I couldn’t have seen a board meeting at such close quarters anywhere else.”
National Apprenticeship Week is designed to bring together employers and apprentices to celebrate the success of apprenticeships over the last decade and seeks to encourage even more people to choose apprenticeships as a fast-track to a great career.
For more information about PET-Xi, please visit www.pet-xi.co.uk or call 024 7642 0310.
Pictured – Fleur Sexton, Joint Managing Director of PET-Xi with the Coventry & Warwickshire Champions Board.