Apprentice diaries

We follow the progress of six girls as they make their way through a two year construction apprentice course.

As the students come to the end of their first month one writes us about her experiences so far.

BECKY SKINNER, 18, BIRMINGHAM

I was at the Walsall Manor Hospital site for two weeks work experience.

I felt a bit scared because I did not know anyone. I soon got to know the other apprentices Kirstie and Kate though. The men that we worked with were nice too.

One of the first times we walked into the canteen all the workers just scared at us in shock.

They were all men. They hadn't seen young girls on site with tools before.

APPRENTICE DIARIES July, 2009 - Becky Skinner August, 2009 - Kirstie Coleman October, 2009 - Samantha Paul January, 2010 - Katie Houghton

However, they all got used to us and started talking and looking after us. Everyone on site now seems really nice and that makes it much more comfortable to work with them.

I really liked working on site.

I go back there again next week for four weeks and I am really looking forward to it.

The learning at the Astins Institute has been great. We knew nothing a month ago. Now we have all the basics like measuring, cutting, tracking, power tools, health and safety, fixing and everything else that makes a good dry liner.

I can go back and be a real part of the dry lining team and find out all about how it really feels to be working on a big site.