Richard Leese, is a former BEST apprentice and now course lecturer in Heating & Ventilating at Leeds College of Building. He is currently responsible for a Shepherd Engineering Services (SES) group at Level 2, a company that has a long-established working relationship with BEST and who have, together, formed a centre of excellence for SES apprentices at Leeds College of Building.

“After leaving school, I applied to several building services companies before embarking on a four-year apprenticeship in Heating & Ventilating Level 2. From the beginning, BEST was both helpful and supportive, and not just with work-related issues. I underwent regular reviews, which ensured I knew the parts of the course I had completed and where I needed to be in each term. My employer was updated on my development throughout, and before I knew it, I had progressed to Level 3, which included both Welding options.

“I definitely feel my experience as a BEST apprentice equips me for my role as a tutor. It has enables me to understand how exactly the apprenticeship system operates and the pressures involved with completing an NVQ from a student’s perspective. This allows me to support each student, provide useful feedback to training advisors and ensure learners are successful.

“BEST’s scheme works well and goes hand-in-hand with employer’s needs and the aims of the colleges.”

www.lcb.ac.uk