SOMERSET-BASED company Viridor has started a new initiative with Somerset schools and colleges to show students the range of career opportunities in the recycling and waste management industry.

Three Viridor employees are participating in a mentoring programme with Richard Huish College in Taunton to help students with assignments and ideas for work experience placements.

Richard Huish Career Academy coordinator Lesley Jarrett said: “We very much value and appreciate the support and interest that Viridor has shown for our exciting new Career Academy. Its success is very dependent on the involvement of local businesses and the diverse range of job roles that Viridor covers will help our students gain a greater awareness of career possibilities when they leave the College or University.”

Viridor has also created Vehicle Fitter apprenticeship opportunities at two of its Somerset sites, in conjunction with Somerset College, Taunton, on a work-based learning approach.

Ross Hawkins, from Somerset College, said: “Somerset College and Viridor are implementing an innovative approach to apprenticeships whereby the majority of training is carried out in the workplace under the direct supervision of dedicated trainers.

“This approach has enabled high quality training to be delivered, while greatly reducing the amount of time that the trainees spend in college, which makes training much more financially viable and enables the company to pay competitive salaries to apprentices.”

Sue Perry, Viridor’s training coordinator, said: “We already have two students on our training and development programme and have more apprenticeships in the pipeline.

“For us it is really important to encourage young people into the industry, as we need to make sure there is a pool of fresh talent to join our ranks in the future.”