Work Experience Students Enjoy Local Work

A group of students from our Construction department have recently undertaken a period of work experience with Skipton Town Council and local charities.

Level 1 Extended Diploma in Painting and Decorating students and Level 2 Diploma in Painting and Decorating students undertook their work experience at the Almshouses on Otley Road, Skipton. The students need to carry out 36 hours of work-related experience or work experience as part of their course.

Almshouses are operated as a charity and the 12 units offer low-cost homes for local people over the age of 55 who are able to live independently.

Craven College students were tasked with redecorating two of the Almshouses ready for the new tenants to move in. The Town Council contacted the department to see if our students could help with the decorating process, as the Council assists the charities who run the properties with the maintenance aspect. More students will be revisiting to carry out further work later in the year.

Peter Face, Lecturer in Painting and Decorating said, “Work experience is really important because it gives the students real experience of working in properties rather than simulation work in the workshop. The students need to think about protecting floors and furniture, working in a safe and tidy manner, and how they conduct themselves when members of the public are around, turning up to work on time and making their own way to the job. All this is valuable experience and helps students prepare for the workplace. We spent a total of 2.5 days painting the Almshouses.

“The students really enjoyed and took ownership of the work they did. They all did an excellent job, and I was very pleased with the standard of work that they produced; they transformed the properties, ready for the new tenants to move into.”

Find out more about Painting and Decorating courses at Craven College!