The Mayor and MTFJ coordinator, Jaron Vince, recently visited Bernie Walsh Aluminium & Glass  in Dannevirke to check in with their Director, Aaron Mitchell to see how three young men, on the Mayors  Task Force for Jobs (MTFJ) programme and employed by the company, were getting on.

The Mayor was also there to present the three men, Dylan Westbury, 24, Harlequin Rutene, 21 and Seth Phillips, 22 with a Certificate of Sustained Employment that recognises them for their commitment to not only the MTFJ program, but also for their commitment to the company and their work ethic.

Dylan Westbury started off working at age 18 at the Warehouse in Dannevirke but, although he liked working there, after a few years realised he wanted a trade.  Like so many others in this position, he knew an apprenticeship was the way forward but felt such a pathway was out of his reach.  MTFJ and Bernie Walsh Aluminium & Glass supported Dylan with a 3 year Glazier apprenticeship which he started in July 2024. The MTFJ programme has supported Dylan with Glazier tools and driver licencing and he is shortly to undertake a Defensive Driving Course.

Harlequin Rutene started his journey on MTFJ and Bernie Walsh Aluminium & Glass in 2022 on a 2 year aluminium joiner apprenticeship.  MTFJ  has supported Harlequin with the tools of his trade and ongoing training.  Harlequin works hard on both the physical work and the coursing he undertakes, making sure he uploads evidential items to his training provider on time.

Seth Phillips started his adult life working at sea on deep sea trawlers but felt he was missing out on his family and needed a new direction.  MTFJ and Bernie Walsh Aluminium & Glass supported him into a 2 year aluminium joiner apprenticeship.  MTFJ has been able to support Seth with tools for his trade and ongoing training.  Seth will be fully qualified by the end of this working year.  Bernie Walshe’s director, Aaron Mitchell, said “Seth has big ambitions for working here and we’ll be working with Seth to mentor him towards becoming the Foreman of the factory”

Their Director said of all three, “They’ve got their feet firmly in the door here and I hope it will be many years they are here for”.

The Mayor said that she loved that they all had dreams of what they wanted in life, wished them all continued success and promised that she would call in on them again at their MTFJ journey continues.

The video, below, shows the mayor present Director, Aaron Mitchell with his Sustained Employment Certificate