Feeling unfulfilled and unprepared for the world of work after her sculpture degree from Manchester Metropolitan University, Helen Chick threw herself into an advanced apprenticeship in a traditionally very male-dominated industry – glass.

And now, at a time when apprenticeships are moving up the political agenda, Helen has been recognised at the very first awards ceremony staged by Proskills, the sector skills council which represents the process and manufacturing industries.

Skills Minister David Lammy recently called on more apprenticeships to be offered to young people and adults, as part of the Government’s drive to see 400,000 Apprenticeships in England by 2020.

Responding to a House of Lords report on apprenticeships he said: “We have seen nothing short of a renaissance of Apprenticeships under this Government. We now have over a quarter of a million people engaged in them in every sector across the economy.”

Helen, now aged 30, was one of two highly commended glass sector workers within the very first GQA Advanced Apprentice of the Year award at a prestigious ceremony in the process and manufacturing heartland of the Midlands.

She works as a Specialist conserver at Holy Well Glass, Wells, Somerset, restoring the stained glass heritage at UK churches, cathedrals and National Trust properties.

Not only was Helen entering into a man’s world (85% of employees in glass industry are male), but she freely admits that she was a “bit of a guinea pig”. The glass industry covers more than 10,000 commercially active companies and employs more than 93,000 employees, but the stained glass world is smaller and a dedicated apprenticeship scheme just didn’t exist.

One of the directors at Holywell Glass, Stephen Clare, set about designing guidelines which would marry the requirements of working in stained glass with the existing NVQs (level 3) in glass processing. So Helen completed the basic framework set out by the NVQ and then added specialist areas on. Her work included: ‘rubbing out a panel’, dismantling a panel and cementing it, how to make a leaded light, glass painting and conservation techniques.

The result, says Neil Robinson, the industry champion for the glass industry at Proskills, was a portfolio worthy of being an exemplar for future stained glass apprentices to emulate.

Neil said: “People like Helen are great ambassadors for apprenticeships. She had already achieved a degree, but she wasn’t afraid to start again and learn something that was going to work for her. The way her apprenticeship was developed is a perfect illustration of the employer being involved in building a qualification that fits the occupation and it’s a message to all employers to get more involved.

“There are plenty of opportunities for people of both sexes to work in glass and Helen is a good example of this. The industry is keen to attract school leavers, graduates and other workers into the industry which has a wide range of roles and career paths to offer.”

Helen said: “Doing an apprenticeship gave me so much more in terms of practical skills which have enabled me to enjoy the job and earn a living at the same time. It’s a traditional skill, which I’ve been learning from people who have years of experience.”

David Lammy said in his recent announcement that he wants to make apprenticeships more easily accessible to everyone who wants one.

He said: “A web-based clearing service we have been trialling will help potential apprentices search nationally much more easily by job category and area and match them better to suitable employers.

“Apprenticeships are routes to good careers. Apprentices can quickly contribute to an employer’s bottom line. They are vital to our mission to be highly skilled and productive and we must maximise their potential.”

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