Vital apprenticeships secured until September

AROUND 200 apprentices affected by last year’s administration of Vital, the Salford-based industrial recruiter, have been told their positions are safe.

They were registered with Vital Skills Training which launched from a special training facility for 260 students at the Soapworks in Salford last summer.

But it went into administration in December a month after most of the group was acquired in a pre-pack deal by Morson, another Salford-based recruitment firm.

The apprentices were contracted to Vital Rail, one of the units acquired by Morson, but TheBusinessDesk understands the apprenticeships became invalid when training element provided by Vital Skills fell away.

Morson has since been in talks with other training providers who will continue until September. However, it is not yet known if the programme will continue for another year. Training will now be provided by a combination of Wales-based Ark Academy, Tresham College in Northamptonshire, Salford College and training provider JTL.

In Salford the apprentices have moved out of the Soapworks and are now based at Salford College and Ordsall Hall.

A spokesman for Vital Human Resources said: “We are pleased to confirm that all rail apprentices are now back in training. Plans are in place to support each apprentice through to the end of their programme, some of which continue until September of this year.
 
“Significant financial investment by Vital Human Resources Ltd, together with the concerted effort and input of time and resources from all stakeholders involved has resulted in this positive outcome for the apprentices, and we are delighted that their training can continue.”