Exceptional Exeter tops apprenticeship table - bucking national trend

Exeter College - the city’s largest provider of Apprenticeships - is thanking employers and partners for playing a key part in the city’s brilliant Apprenticeship growth, bucking a national trend. 

The city of Exeter topped the table as only one of a small handful of cities that bucked a national decline in Apprenticeship starts, according to a report published by the Centre for Cities, a leading think tank.  

Exeter College has played a significant part in this success story with more than a thousand starts in year. The next biggest provider contributed 100 starts to the total Exeter figure.  

Exeter, as a city, tops the table at more than 90 per cent growth in Apprenticeship starts between 2015/16 and 2017/18 – beating other world-leading cities like Oxford and Cambridge, by nearly 50%.

On the back of the news, Exeter College is thanking employers and partners, recognising that without employers providing opportunities for the next generation of our local workforce, none of this would be possible. The success has been put down to the college operating in a city where exceptional partnerships are part of everyday life and a recognised part of the substantial business network.   

John Laramy, Exeter College Principal and Chief Executive, said: “This achievement shows how well Exeter works as a city. A number of key players have created a highly effective ecosystem which drives prosperity, productivity and growth.  These include the city council, Devon County Council, Exeter Chamber, the Local Enterprise Partnership, young people, parents and critically employers. 

“I would like to thank all of the employers who work with the college, congratulate our Apprentices for their stunning contribution to college life and finally say a massive thank you to our staff who have yet again helped to put Exeter at the top of the pile!” 

Karime Hassan, Exeter City Council’s Chief Executive & Growth Directorsaid: “The success of our vision for Exeter lies in developing talent and nurturing it to its full potential. In a city with virtually full employment, the biggest constraint on growth is access to that talent. For us to be successful - we have to grow our own. 

“Exeter College is trail blazing in the promotion of those skills.  It is such important work – with a direct correlation to creating a stronger Exeter of the future.”

Mike Blakeley, Director of Apprenticeships and Employer Engagement, said: “To be at the top of the chart of more than 50 cities across the country is a phenomenal achievement by all those who support Apprenticeships across the city. In my five years here at the college I have seen a transformation amongst our businesses, key stakeholders, parents and young people regarding Apprenticeships. It’s now incredibly positive and a very vibrant 

option.”

He went on to add  “These results, put us again as one of the leading providers in the country and is true demonstration to all of the hard work of over 100 amazing staff at the college dedicated to supporting over 85 different Apprenticeship programmes. ” 

One of the Exeter employers which has been part of this success story is South West Communications Group. The first raft of employees has completed the company’s inaugural apprenticeship scheme. 

Initiated in 2017, swcomms’ board has utilised a £200k commitment to the Apprenticeship Levy Scheme with bespoke NVQ Level 3 IT, communications & administration qualifications from Exeter College. The course, co-developed by the directors ofswcomms and Exeter College’s professional and adult learning team, is designed to support the business transition into the new era of cloud-based telecommunications.  

The scheme was open to all non-technical staff and created 16 apprenticeships within the incumbent workforce with the long-term plan to build on this number in the next few years.  

swcommshas also fully embraced the more traditional apprenticeship for school leavers having engaged three apprentices in addition to the existing full-time employee candidates. 

swcomms’ managing director Brian Lodge said: “Exeter College has supported us from the very start of our Apprenticeship journey in terms of creating a bespoke IT, communications and administration course to hone the skills of our existing employees. The college should be applauded in terms of putting the city on the map for being the largest provider of Apprenticeships and for the contribution these Apprentices are making to the Exeter’s economy now and in the future.”

The Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Foundation Trust (RD&E) is another significant employer that has contributed to the success of the cities positive approach to Apprenticeships.  By utilising its Levy, it is investing heavily in new and existing staff and has transformed its organisational offer across the Trust. 

Julie Cooper, Interim Director of People at the RD&E, said: “The number of Apprentices here at the Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Foundation Trust has more than doubled over the last two years, and we are now proud to employ almost 300 apprentices across the Trust, in both clinical and non-clinical roles.

“Apprenticeships are a fantastic opportunity for individuals to progress their career within the NHS, offering employees the chance to continuously develop and helping the Trust to grow our workforce of the future. 

“We are delighted to be part of an incredible local community of apprenticeship employers in Exeter, working closely with Exeter College to continually expand the number of Apprenticeship opportunities available.”

The report, produced by the Centre for Cities, the leading think tank dedicated to improving the performance of UK city economies, uses as its source Department for Education data.  

The publication of the report comes at a time when Apprenticeships at Exeter College is on a clear upward trajectory. 

Exeter College, which has invested in its Apprenticeships team, working together with partners, and employers, recently opened a new Apprenticeship and Employment Hub in the heart of the city. 

The award-winning Exeter College Apprenticeship team has forged partnerships with more than 950 local businesses over five years of growth.  The college is currently the top FE College in the South West for employer satisfaction – with a near perfect score of 99%, according to the Education and Skills Funding Agency annual survey; the third year in a row it has been in the Top 10.  

Pictured: Exceptional Exeter Tops Apprenticeship Table - Bucking National Trend; pictured here is the official opening of the new Exeter College Apprenticeship and Employment Hub at, located in the heart of the city.