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Smooth career path for hearing impaired Ricky!
25 May 2010
A hardworking trainee plasterer from Doncaster College for the Deaf has won over a prestigious building company through his smooth work.
Ricky Brown, 20, of Southam, Warwickshire, gained valuable work experience at renowned Warwick building and maintenance company, Rok, after the placement was set up by the college. Ricky, who has already achieved a Level 1 City and Guilds qualification in plastering, is now working towards his Level 2 and received high praise from his employer who hopes to welcome him back.
The Deaf student has been training at the college for the past four years and hopes to run his own plastering business one day. He said: “I felt so supported in my two week placement, which was great as it can be difficult to communicate. It was brilliant to watch and learn how to do something in a working environment and I gained so much confidence, it was fantastic.”
Rok, who provide first class repairs, refurbishment, and maintenance services across the UK, were approached by the college to see if they would become involved in their work experience programme. Arranged by the employment liaison department, it offers great benefits and an introduction to the real world of work for deaf students who wish to progress with their careers.
Ricky, who lives in a shared flat in the town during term time which is owned by the college, returned to his Southam home to complete his work experience where he assisted and shadowed his mentor in repairing and plastering the hallways of a residential occupied house in Warwick.
He added: “Rok technician Dave Berger showed me exactly what to do and although he wasn’t able to sign, I lip read when it was needed and if there were any problems we just used to write things down.
“I thoroughly enjoyed my placement and now know what to expect when I go into the world of work and I hope to return to Rok in the near future. I am so grateful for everything the college has done to organise this work experience placement and for providing a brilliant educational environment where Deaf people can use their first language and feel at home when they are learning.”
Rok area leader, Dave Amor, said it had been a real pleasure to have Ricky as part of the team for a couple of weeks, as he seemed to thoroughly enjoy the experience and had done really well. He said: “It is nice to have people coming in who are keen to take advantage of the opportunity and enthusiastic to learn.”
Bobbie Roberts, Chair of Trustees at the Trust, said: “We are thrilled at how far Ricky has come on his journey into employment and are pleased that he enjoyed his placement so much. We hope to continue to build our working relationship with Rok, who are now working with us to secure placements at their offices all over the country.
“We wish Ricky all the best with his blossoming career and will continue to offer him the best support available.”