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Herald and Post Article – Edge Awards 2006

Last night was a very special evening for Simon Smith of North Shields and all of those involved with the Barn Joinery company.

It was very special because Simon, who was recently named the North East’s outstanding young practical learner in the Edge Employer Awards for 2006, was appearing in the national final held in the world famous Roundhouse in London.

I don’t know the verdict of the judges for the national finalists but Simon and Barn Joinery are already winners – not just by coming top locally – but by also demonstrating that practical learning can be turned into a good job and assist in developing a strong commercial organisation.

Simon first got involved with Barn Joinery – which is a community based social enterprise – in March 2004. It soon became clear that he had the potential to do well in the joinery trade. I saw his ability when I recently visited the workshops at Barn Joinery. He is currently being trained to a level where he can successfully become a bench hand joiner. This is a great success story.

There are wider lessons to be learnt as well. It is about how we encourage people to gain skills. Practical learning comes from actually doing something. It is learning for real, often on the job from people who themselves have first hand experience. So what we have is education and experience rolled into one. This provides one of the best ways to learn.

The Edge awards were only introduced last year. Originally they were only available to employers who offered great opportunities, from work experience to part-time courses. This year it has been extended to include individuals.

Practical learning offers a path to success that we should celebrate. I am sure there are many young people who would benefit from the more practical approach to developing someone’s ability.