A TEAM of apprentices switched places with assessors during National Apprenticeship Week.

The job-swap gave learners the chance to experience a few hours in the working life of a tutor, while the trainer-assessors went back to the floor to brush up their practical hospitality skills either in the kitchen or front of house.

Sarah Peart, an apprentice at The Durham Dales retail and visitor centre in Stanhope, said: “It was great fun to experience someone else’s job just for a few hours and to see that the assessors can do the jobs that they’re assessing us on.

“As tea room supervisor for the day, it was up to me to give my assessor the tasks to complete, she made a great pot wash.”

The event was organised by Simon Liversedge, North-East area manager for national training provider HIT Training.

HIT trainer-assessor Candice Craven said: “It’s good to get back to the floor now and then, we’ve all worked in the hospitality industry so have a great range of practical skills and experience to offer our learners, but working at the frontline from time to time certainly keeps us on our toes.”