Learning Potential – What Are You Doing For National Apprenticeship Week?
As National Apprenticeship Week gets under way, Sal McKeown looks at what companies are doing to mark the occasion and the difference that apprenticing has made to some young people’s lives… Today marks the beginning of the first National Apprenticeship Week, since Nicky Morgan announced new legislation in January to end the ‘outdated snobbery‘ towards […]
- by Sal McKeown
As National Apprenticeship Week gets under way, Sal McKeown looks at what companies are doing to mark the occasion and the difference that apprenticing has made to some young people’s lives…
Today marks the beginning of the first National Apprenticeship Week, since Nicky Morgan announced new legislation in January to end the ‘outdated snobbery‘ towards apprenticeships.
The new law will mean that schools must collaborate with colleges, university technical colleges and other training providers to make sure young people are aware of all the routes open to them.
A lot to learn
Traditionally, schools have often pushed young people towards university – but these days, with increased fees and no guarantee of a job at the end of their studies, many young people are looking more closely at apprenticeships.
Unisnotforme is a company that promotes alternatives to university. It believes that apprenticeship schemes aren’t just for people who failed to get the grades; they’re for people who want a more work based learning approach.
According to Bekah Leonard, 19, a Unisnotforme journalism apprentice, ‘Late in my A-levels I realised I couldn’t spend another three years of my life learning from a book – I wanted to be getting published and earning some money.
I searched for journalism jobs in London through Twitter and found that Unisnotforme wanted a journalism apprentice. I hadn’t even heard of journalism apprenticeships until then, and have now almost finished the course with an NCTJ Level three diploma and a job doing what I love, while I learn.’
The Skills Funding Agency and Department for Business, Innovation & Skills released figures in early March that indicate an increase in the number of young people, aged under 19, earning and learning on apprenticeships.
Apex Stainless Fasteners in Rugby is a major supplier of stainless steel fasteners, making bolts for motorway bridges and screws for the automotive industry. Michael Westley, 17, started his sales apprenticeship a few months ago, after leaving school last year. As well as receiving on the job training, Michael is working towards an NVQ in Business Administration.
‘There is a lot to learn and every day is different,’ he says. ‘I really like being part of the team, and I am much happier learning in the workplace rather than being stuck in a classroom. It’s great to get the experience while earning your own money.’
Chiswick School is marking National Apprenticeship Week by bringing in apprentices studying at Kingston College as well as former Chiswick School student Kai Tolfree, who will share his experiences of a building management apprenticeship.
Students will be able to visit the Careers Centre during breaks to see what happens there, while assemblies will highlight Chiswick students’ top 10 job choices and present students with a challenge in which they have to guess the identity of celebrities based on their CVs.
Daunting requirement
New apprenticeship opportunities are emerging all the time, especially in leisure and tourism. Inspiring Learning employs over 400 apprentices in Kingswood activity centres set up to provide residential adventure activity breaks for schools and uniformed groups.
Cruise118.com is also looking for talented young apprentices: ‘Government grants help to subsidise the cost, and we can give fantastic opportunities to youngsters in our local community,’ says the company’s Managing Director, James Cole. ‘Cruise holidays are changing, with the average age of passengers consistently falling. It’s therefore vital that the industry has a fresh injection of young, passionate employees who reflect this shift.’
To mark National Apprenticeship Week, training company PET-Xi has meanwhile launched its own apprenticeship scheme with opportunities in customer services, business administration, social media and digital marketing and sports coaching, and is also all set to support schools taking on apprentices.
Under the new proposals, public bodies with 250 or more employees must offer apprenticeships – a requirement that some are finding daunting. In response, Pet-Xi is offering schools the chance to enrol an apprentice onto their Level 2 certificate in Supporting Teaching and Learning in schools.
As PET-Xi’s joint managing director, Fleur Sexton, explains, ‘Research by the National Audit Office has shown that for every £1 a business spends on an apprentice, £18 is paid back into the UK economy. I am absolutely thrilled that we are now fully involved, both as an employer and as a training provider.’
Further information about National Apprenticeship Week can be found here; to find out more about PET-Xi’s apprenticeship scheme, visit www.pet-xi.co.uk/apprenticeships or follow @PETXiTraining
