Apprenticeship helps 20-year-old turn life around

Ky Shaw (right) has been praised by the mayor of the West Midlands, Richard Parker (left)

A 20-year-old has landed an apprenticeship working on a new skyscraper after having a difficult time as a teenager.

Ky Shaw from Dudley said he was determined to put himself onto a better path and would now be working as a plumber on the 39-storey tower in Birmingham.

He said: "I always found it hard to settle and concentrate in a classroom environment and preferred more hands-on learning."

His behaviour led to him being moved from one secondary school to another and he said: "I got myself into trouble with the police and that was when I realised this was not the way forward."

Mr Shaw is working for principal contractor John Sisk & Son at the Moda Living project on Great Charles Street.

He said it had changed his life for the better, because he was able to learn while earning a living.

"Securing a plumbing apprenticeship really is a dream for me and I believe that getting on this pathway has kept me out of prison," he said.

Mr Shaw said his ambition was to advance to become a project manager or supervisor and have his own construction business one day.

"The only way is up," he said.

The West Midlands Combined Authority awarded £100,000 to run a skills hub at the Great Charles Street site, offering people free construction training and a guaranteed job interview at the end of the 20-day course.

Mayor of the West Midlands Richard Parker said: "Ky is an inspiration to other young people to get themselves the skills to thrive."