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Work Based Learning

Pembroke EMB has a long standing commitment to providing learning opportunities to help people achieve their potential.  Many local people have achieved qualifications and gained employment through experience and support from the EMB.  Continuing this commitment, we now offer supportive work based learning placements for both young people and adults. These are particularly suitable for those with little training and employment experience who are seeking to develop their interests and gain skills to improve their longer term employment prospects.
 Working within our repair and maintenance team, trainees have an opportunity to gain an introduction to a range of skills in the fields of construction and horticulture.

 Trainees and people on placement are also encouraged to build a photo portfolio of their work. This demonstrates in a visual format an individual’s commitment to work and self improvement. At a later stage when further training or employment opportunities arise, a portfolio is a useful addition to present at interview.

 Some of the work completed on placement can be accredited via nationally recognised awards offered by the ASDAN and AQA awarding bodies, helping to provide recognition for employment related skills.

 Working within the maintenance team also helps develop an understanding of the importance of maintaining the physical environment - something the PSEMB’s success is firmly based upon.  PSEMB would like to see an expanded role for local housing and service providers, offering a responsive service in maintaining estates to a high standard and tackling problems quickly and effectively.
 At present PSEMB works mainly with year 10 and 11 school pupils, having established good links with schools across the city.  This work recently received a boost with the success of a combination of successful funding applications to develop a dedicated training facility on the Estate.  This facility will provide opportunities to expand the range of repair and maintenance training we are able to offer as well as provide a study area for the young people.  If it is to have a lasting future this work needs to become self sustaining.

 PSEMB have also begun work with the STEPS Project, part of the NHS Plymouth Social Inclusion Team who refer adults to PSEMB.  This enables us to offer placements to adults who are recovering from mental health issues who wish to return to work. These placements provide an important first step towards regaining confidence in the workplace and moving towards employment.

 There is also a strong emphasis on the ‘Safer, Cleaner, Greener’ agenda by getting local people involved in initiatives to enhance the environment. Recently this included work as part of a Home Office crime reduction programme involving a major clean up of the Raglan Gatehouse – an historic building that had fallen into disrepair.  The young people also toured the city council maintenance depot to see at first hand the breadth of work that goes into maintaining the city. Young people also got to take part in a plastering workshop in partnership with Shekinah Mission , a local charitable organization.
Trainees have a opportunity to gain an introduction to a range of skills

 
School pupils on a vocational placement learning introductory plastering skills from Ron, PSEMB’s senior repair & maintenance worker