Challenge bid as part of National Apprentice Week.

A team of apprentices from NextiraOne in Lichfield is currently taking part in a community project at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire, which will see an additional pathway built to the iconic World War I memorial, Shot at Dawn.

The team of nine, which incorporates apprentices from various departments across NextiraOne, is taking part in the regional heats of the Brathay Challenge 2014 – the official search for the nation’s apprentice team of the year.  The Challenge was designed by the Brathay Trust, whose aim it is to inspire young people to succeed, and will test the apprentices’ team building, leadership, logistical and communication abilities, while helping to raise awareness of apprenticeships.

The NextiraOne apprentices chose to complete a community project at the National Memorial Arboretum, which is part of The Royal British Legion family of charities, as part of the Challenge because it is the centenary year of the start of World War I and they were keen to pay tribute to all the soldiers who fought and lost their lives. It is also timed to coincide with National Apprenticeship Week (3rd to 7th March).

Said Alex Blackshaw, finance apprentice, said “NextiraOne has previous links to the National Memorial Arboretum and the apprentices feel it is a place that deserves their support as it means so much to so many people.

“As it’s 100 years since the start of the First World War, it seems a perfect way to show our gratitude, both to the soldiers who fought and to the Arboretum for helping to conserve their memory”, he concluded.

James Shallcross, deputy curator of the Arboretum commented: “The apprentices from NextiraOne have worked really hard to help us to create an additional pathway to Shot at Dawn in order to enhance access to the memorial at this significant time for World War I Remembrance.  We appreciate the hard work and dedication the apprentices have shown and wish them well in the Braythay Challenge”.

The NextiraOne apprentices now hope to join the top scoring teams from each region to take part in the National Final of the Braythay Challenge, with the goal of being crowned Apprentice Team of the Year.

The Arboretum is open daily and is free to enter, although donations are appreciated.  For more information visit: www.thenma.org.uk or email [email protected].