Jake Collins from West Bromwich and Harry Billingham from Stourbridge talk about their journeys in adult education
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00:00So today I'm here because I won an award, Step Into Learning, which was just last week
00:07and it went brilliantly and I've been asked to come back.
00:10And what did it mean to you when you won that award?
00:14It meant a lot to be honest because I've never done anything like that in my life.
00:17I've won a few awards in my life but nothing on this scale I think.
00:21And to get that sort of award from the Bay of the West Indies as well,
00:25could you imagine all that when you won that trophy?
00:28To be honest, I would never have thought I would receive something off the mail,
00:32let alone meeting him because it was an absolute pleasure.
00:36It's been a journey for you hasn't it?
00:38It really has.
00:39You've had a score of wins, the qualifications you have.
00:42What was it that inspired you to go back to work-based training?
00:46Well, what inspired me was I knew I wanted to help people out
00:50but I wasn't too sure how I wanted to help people out.
00:53So when the SWAB course came up for the NHS I knew it was something I would want to do
00:57because working in a hospital, I'm going to be helping people out
01:01whether it be cleaning, whether it be something else.
01:04So I just wanted to help people.
01:06And obviously you went through the sad loss of your mother.
01:10Do you think she'll be proud of you?
01:12Of course she'll be proud of me and I know she's proud of me.
01:14What's the next steps for you?
01:16So you've won the award, so what are you doing next?
01:18Well, I'm going into linen lead in the next month or so, which will be amazing.
01:23And then from there I'd like to progress into the National Good and Transport Service driving for them
01:29which I would like to personally drive the motorbikes.
01:32And I hear that you have a special position. I was going to ask you about that initially as well.
01:35Yeah, I will be working at Midland Met once it opens in my new role of linen lead.
01:42Let's talk about the sex-based work-academy programme.
01:46What would you say to somebody who's maybe thinking about doing it?
01:51What would you say to suggest them to do it?
01:53I'd suggest them just to go for it and try it.
01:55Because if you don't try it, you'll never know where you might end up.
01:58So it's never too late, is it?
02:00Never too late. It doesn't matter how old you are, it doesn't matter about nothing.
02:04It's just get in there, give it a go and give it your best shot, really.
02:08Okay, so tell me about what you're doing currently.
02:12So I've just finished my graduate scheme with the company, which I've been doing for the past two years.
02:19So I'm now an assistant site manager, which is what I've been working towards.
02:24So tell me about the work that you've been doing. How much have you been learning?
02:28Has it all been a sort of learning mode?
02:30Yeah, big time. So I did university before this in construction and that gave me a small knowledge base.
02:37But working on site and actually putting things into practice has really developed my skills and knowledge.
02:44What do you think of the mares and the natties?
02:47I think they're very good.
02:49I think certainly getting more people involved in construction would be a big boost for the region.
02:55There's a lot of construction going on at the minute and it would be a waste not to make the most of that.
03:00I noticed that you spoke about youth employers.
03:04I was going to ask you about youth employers.
03:06So you're a youth employer?
03:07Yeah.
03:08How important is it for a scheme like this just to boost young people?
03:14Big time. I think it can be used certainly as a flagship for development.
03:19It sets the standard of how things should be going forward.
03:23And employing local people, young people on the scheme.
03:28You were starting again. Is this a scheme that you've been working on?
03:32Yeah, big time. I've been here pretty much since the start of the development.
03:37So it's been quite good to see it progress from the ground upwards to where it is now.
03:43Very good, very good. I'm lucky enough to meet the previous mayor who came to visit last time.
03:49So I've seen some positive things.