THREE employees from Chester & District Housing Trust (CDHT) have been awarded qualifications as part of an on-the-job training scheme.

Bob Webb, Neighbourhood Services team leader, John Bailiff, ground maintenance technician and Sid Price, ground maintenance technician were each presented with an NVQ2 in horticulture by Cllr Robert Thompson, at a special awards ceremony in CDHT’s headquarters at Centurion House, Northgate Street.

The qualifications mark the beginning of a range of workplace learning courses that are being supported by the Housing Trust, as part of Train to Gain, a government scheme for businesses which offers free training on a range of courses and learning in the workplace.

Jane Thompson, Train To Gain Manager for Reaseheath College, said: “If you are in full-time employment, the ability to continue learning might not always be available to you. The Train to Gain programme is about giving people that opportunity.”

Cllr Robert Thompson, who presented the NVQs, said: “I’m delighted to congratulate these gentlemen on their achievement. Having done it myself.”

Bob Webb, Neighbourhood Services team leader for CDHT, said: “It’s been a great confidence booster. We started from scratch and proved that we could achieve a qualification, even with school a distant memory.”

Mike Statham, HR Learning and Development Officer for CDHT, said: “The NVQ2 in Horticulture is just the first in a range of employee training courses that the Trust is supporting.”