Local MP Caroline Dinenage whipped up the cappuccinos as she became an apprentice at Gosport’s Costa Coffee on Monday 6 February.
Caroline joined the Costa team to mark the start of National Apprenticeship Week. She tried her hand at making drinks, serving customers and keeping the place in order, as she experienced apprenticeship training at the Gosport store.
Speaking before her apprenticeship, Caroline said:
‘National Apprenticeship Week is held to promote the benefits of apprenticeships. I never thought I could do an apprenticeship with coffee and cake and customer service. There are a lot of apprenticeships to do with things like engineering but actually there is something for everybody.
‘Also a lot of people aren’t suited to a more academic career and are more suited to something where they can get their hands dirty and do a job. A degree doesn’t guarantee you a job at the end of it and you’re likely to come out with a lot of debt.'
Caroline added:
‘Gosport has lots of apprenticeships on offer thanks to places like EDF Energy, Vector Aerospace and Network Rail, and I thought this year it would be nice to highlight a different kind of apprenticeship.’
The Gosport store has achieved significant successes in the apprenticeship scheme, with shop Manager Reinis Niedritis undertaking a Management Apprenticeship and assistant manager Ben initially starting as a team member apprentice before progressing up the ladder.
Ben, 19, of Wych Lane in Gosport, said:
‘I love working here and doing the apprenticeship has been really good for me. I started off as an apprentice then I got a promotion to assistant manager. I have to do exams and things like that but it’s not all paperwork, it’s about skills to do with the job. I don’t have to pay for it because Costa does, which is a big help. I would encourage other people to do the same thing if they were thinking about it.'
Ben added:
‘Having Caroline work with us was great. She was doing a really good job and was friendly with everyone.’
National Apprenticeship Week will run from 6th-10th February to promote and celebrate the benefits of apprenticeships scheme. It reflects the Government’s ongoing support for apprenticeships, which saw the number of apprentices increase last year by 58%.