Havant MP Alan Mak has praised a Havant-based business for stepping in to help a former Carillion apprentice following the collapse of the contractor.
Tom Curley faced losing his carpentry apprenticeship after the company entered administration earlier this year, but his role was saved after New Lane firm Comserv stepped in.
Comserv provide responsive repairs maintenance to Portsmouth City Council and other projects. In total they look after around 15,000 Local Authority properties, many of them in Leigh Park and other areas of the Havant Borough.
Group executive manager for Comserv, Richard Cooper said: “We are so pleased that we were able to step in at short notice and offer an apprenticeship to Tom following the demise of Carillon. Tom is now getting real on-the-job training supported by his day release to college and I am confident he will do very well with us here at Comserv.”
Alan has been a strong supporter of apprenticeships including through his three annual Havant Jobs and Apprenticeships Fair backed by the News and his work as Co-Chair of the all party apprenticeships group in Parliament.
The Government has set a tarrget of three million more apprenticeships by 2020. In the Havant parliamentary constituency, last year just under 900 people started apprenticeships.
Alan said: “Having organised 3 jobs and apprenticeships fairs for residents, I was delighted to meet Tom and hear about how his apprenticeship was secured by Comserv. It’s great that a local firm have been able to create something positive out of Carillion’s collapse by taking on Tom and securing his apprenticeship.
“Nationally, I’m committed to boosting apprenticeships, as they not only give young people the opportunity to learn a valuable skill while earning at the same time, they also raise the productivity of businesses. The skills that apprentices like Tom are learning at Comserv will give them a strong foundation for future success.”
Photo caption: Alan Mak MP meets with former Carillion apprentice Tom Curley, now working for Havant based business, Comserv