PETROC students, local employers and tutors at a recent open day to mark National Apprenticeship Week.

Future of North Devon apprenticeships is looking bright at college open day.

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A BARNSTAPLE college has thrown open its doors to introduce the public to the tradesmen of tomorrow as part of National Apprenticeship Week.

The Petroc Brannams campus saw a variety of visitors on Wednesday to its new workshops at the School of Architecture, Construction and the Built Environment.

Despite a national trend for doom and gloom, the future of the local construction industry is looking brighter after it was revealed the college has enjoyed a bumper year for apprentices, with more than 200 signing up for courses.

The open event saw employers, prospective learners and the public invited to see apprentices and full time learners in action, practising brickwork, including some very decorative pieces,

Plus other skills.

Students also spent the week building a scaled down bungalow, using traditional building methods.

There were a variety of activities to join in with, including the Brickathon Challenge to see how fast participants can lay 20 bricks, plus the CSkills remote control dumper challenge, together with a range of trade displays with the latest innovations and tools available.

“Apprentices add life to businesses,” said senior tutor Jason Quinn.

“As well as being eager, motivated, flexible and loyal to the company that invests in them, apprentices deliver real returns to the bottom line.

“We’re very pleased with the response from industry, because we have taken on more than 200 apprentices this year – when the college has exceeded its apprenticeship target it’s a very positive message.”