Careers and apprenticeship specialists the Spark Group is gearing up for the arrival of new apprentices and learners, just weeks after the conclusion of a programme which helped to turn around the lives of young attendees.

The Stoke-on-Trent based Spark Group will welcome six property maintenance apprentices, four gas maintenance apprentices, and eight learners on an introduction to work education programme.

And in an innovative project, which will be known as Reignite, the Spark Group will work with schools to support pupils in danger of being lost to mainstream education.  

It follows the success of the company’s recent programme to support youngsters who had fallen through the cracks into work. In a project funded through Stoke-on-Trent City Council, the Spark Group took on eight young people who were not in education, employment, and training, commonly known as NEETS .

Out of eight trainees, two have already found full time work, two are beginning apprenticeships with local companies, and the remainder are progressing towards a brighter future having passed their essential  functional skills exams in maths or English while working with the Spark Group. All eight successfully completed Level 1 Construction and Environmental Sustainability qualifications. 

The Spark Group was set up by Daniel Canavan, a training expert specialising in providing pathways into work for youngsters in Stoke-on-Trent and Newcastle-under-Lyme. Following its foundation in mid-2023, Daniel, of Hartshill, spent the first 18 months planning a business strategy for success, before ;launching its training programme in 2025.

Daniel has now been joined by Brian Pepper, a construction trainer and assessor, Debbie Sturridge, Business Information Manager, and Chris Wilshaw, Operations Director.

Chris, a qualified teacher who has worked who has previously worked with Daniel as Head of Education at PM Training and Achieve Training, said: “September 2025 see the Spark Group begin our first major intake of trainees and follows our initial project with NEETS which has given young people who had fallen out of education with a route into work.

“Those initial learners worked incredibly hard, and we were able to ignite sparks within them which will help them towards a brighter future. It’s incredibly fulfilling to see the transformation that can be achieved when you are able to motivate young people and show them there are ways forward.

“Our Reignite project builds on this by working with young people who could be in danger of becoming NEETs. We will work with schools to help re-engage 14- to 16-year-olds who have become disillusioned with mainstream education. Up to six pupils a week will come into our workshop on one day each week, with the aim of rediscovering their spark. We aim to catch them before they fall out of mainstream education.”

“Everything we do here is about providing inspiration and resetting aspiration.”

The start of the new apprenticeship courses in September, follows a series of inspiration days during the summer school and college holidays.

The Spark Group has worked with the Stoke-on-Trent based HUBB foundation, backed by funding from the Government’s  Holiday Activities and Food programme to provide Construction Skills Days at the company’s workshops and education base in Westmill Street, Hanley.  Attendees were shown basic skills and enjoyed a construction works simulator provided by C&R, Civil and Remediation Ltd, of Congleton.   

A further two skills days were provided for young people from YMCA North Staffordshire.  

The construction apprenticeships are being launched in partnership with award winning training provider, Performance Through People.

To find out more about the Spark Group please go online to https://thespark.group/

ENDS

For media enquiries contact Nigel Howle, Howle Communications, on 0776 2043436 email [email protected]