turtletom
11-03-2008, 12:29
Hi
My name is Thomas Hollands and I am 20 years old. I moved from Sheffield in September 2004 to Australia (Canberra) I started my painting and decorating apprenticeship in January 2005 and was really enjoying it.
After a bit I was feeling really home sick so in December 2005 I decided to put my apprenticeship on hold and came back home to Sheffield to find a painting and decorating firm who would take me on and give me the opportunity to carry on with my Apprenticeship back in Sheffield.
I found a few firms who invited me for interviews but it took me about 20 seconds to realise these were cowboys and was not even interested in training me up as an apprentice, they just wanted cheap labour.
I still did not give up and I phoned up numerous painting and decorating firms from the yellow pages and still had no luck. I even went to the connexions centre in Sheffield but was told because I had 12 GCSE’s that I was too overqualified and that there was nothing they could do to help me apart from give me the yellow pages!
In February 2006 I had to make a touch decision and decided I had to go back to Australia to carry on my apprenticeship. This made me really upset as I was leaving family, friends and girlfriend all behind.
Once I returned back to Australia in February 2006 I resumed my apprenticeship and each and every day I was feeling more and more upset. I really enjoyed what I was doing but was homesick all the time.
In December 2006 I came back to England for a holiday and enjoyed it loads. Caught up with Friends, went out round town, going to Sheffield United matches etc. Then along came the bombshell and I had to go back to Australia in January 2007.
Again the same thing happened and in March 2007 I decided I was coming back home to Sheffield for good! Again whilst in Australia I was emailing all the painters and decorators in the Sheffield area and telling them the same situation that I am explaining now.
I received one email from a painter who seemed very interested in having me working with him and he sounded like a genuine bloke, one who would actually put me through college. I arranged to meet up with him when I arrived back in England, after meeting up with him I was thrilled and started working with him. However as each day went by I kept asking him to contact the Sheffield college and speak to a woman called Hazel (who I had got in touch with and done all the ground work) But he never phoned her to push my apprenticeship through the final stages!
I was really annoyed and decided I better start looking for a regular job and I did. I started working in a busy office in July 2007 and have just completed my NVQ level 2 in business administration, going onto complete my NVQ level 3.
At the weekends I have been busy painting still and I have all my equipment that I shipped back from Australia.
I am seriously still wanting to carry on with Painting and decorating and thought by putting this (my life story!) on the Sheffield Forum I may be able to be painting again soon.
I am looking for a painter and decorator who needs a partner and will consider taking me on and putting me through my last year of college. I have all my own equipment and have my own transport.
I can provide references and pictures of jobs I have completed. I am a genuine hard worker who will not let you down and is hoping someone can give me the opportunity to work with them.
Thanks for listening.
Please feel free to PM me.
Tom
My name is Thomas Hollands and I am 20 years old. I moved from Sheffield in September 2004 to Australia (Canberra) I started my painting and decorating apprenticeship in January 2005 and was really enjoying it.
After a bit I was feeling really home sick so in December 2005 I decided to put my apprenticeship on hold and came back home to Sheffield to find a painting and decorating firm who would take me on and give me the opportunity to carry on with my Apprenticeship back in Sheffield.
I found a few firms who invited me for interviews but it took me about 20 seconds to realise these were cowboys and was not even interested in training me up as an apprentice, they just wanted cheap labour.
I still did not give up and I phoned up numerous painting and decorating firms from the yellow pages and still had no luck. I even went to the connexions centre in Sheffield but was told because I had 12 GCSE’s that I was too overqualified and that there was nothing they could do to help me apart from give me the yellow pages!
In February 2006 I had to make a touch decision and decided I had to go back to Australia to carry on my apprenticeship. This made me really upset as I was leaving family, friends and girlfriend all behind.
Once I returned back to Australia in February 2006 I resumed my apprenticeship and each and every day I was feeling more and more upset. I really enjoyed what I was doing but was homesick all the time.
In December 2006 I came back to England for a holiday and enjoyed it loads. Caught up with Friends, went out round town, going to Sheffield United matches etc. Then along came the bombshell and I had to go back to Australia in January 2007.
Again the same thing happened and in March 2007 I decided I was coming back home to Sheffield for good! Again whilst in Australia I was emailing all the painters and decorators in the Sheffield area and telling them the same situation that I am explaining now.
I received one email from a painter who seemed very interested in having me working with him and he sounded like a genuine bloke, one who would actually put me through college. I arranged to meet up with him when I arrived back in England, after meeting up with him I was thrilled and started working with him. However as each day went by I kept asking him to contact the Sheffield college and speak to a woman called Hazel (who I had got in touch with and done all the ground work) But he never phoned her to push my apprenticeship through the final stages!
I was really annoyed and decided I better start looking for a regular job and I did. I started working in a busy office in July 2007 and have just completed my NVQ level 2 in business administration, going onto complete my NVQ level 3.
At the weekends I have been busy painting still and I have all my equipment that I shipped back from Australia.
I am seriously still wanting to carry on with Painting and decorating and thought by putting this (my life story!) on the Sheffield Forum I may be able to be painting again soon.
I am looking for a painter and decorator who needs a partner and will consider taking me on and putting me through my last year of college. I have all my own equipment and have my own transport.
I can provide references and pictures of jobs I have completed. I am a genuine hard worker who will not let you down and is hoping someone can give me the opportunity to work with them.
Thanks for listening.
Please feel free to PM me.
Tom