More demand for South West Apprenticeships
Nearly half of the South West’s businesses plan to take on apprentices in the next five years according to a survey of employers across England.
The study of 601 businesses, released to coincide with National Apprenticeship Week, also shows how Apprenticeships are growing in popularity, with half of all employers in the South West (50%) reporting that they are now more likely to offer an Apprenticeship than they were two years ago.
A quarter of employers also reported that they would be taking on apprentices within the next 12 months indicating that more companies are seeing the advantages of such programmes.
Sue Holding of the nursery group Puffins of Exeter explained the advantages of training apprentices, she said: “We started up the training because we found the quality of the training that was provided for our staff really wasn't up to scratch. That’s why we decided to register ourselves as a training provider.
“Apprenticeships really work for us because it allows the learners to earn while they’re learning but it [also] allows us to mix between on the job and off the job training.”
Apprenticeship programmes are typically open to anyone over the age of 16 and see employers offer on the job training which builds towards a qualification, the highest level of which is equivalent to a university degree. All apprentices also earn a wage whilst studying.
“We try and offer as much progression as we can. I think that our progression rate last year was like 75% of our level twos went on to do a level three programme,.. which is definitely higher than the national average” continued Sue Holding.
“At the moment we have 32 level two apprentices and 15 level three apprentices with regards to childcare but we also have management apprentices as well.
“The management qualification is for people that have done the two childcare apprenticeships with us we than offer a management programme.
“That would be for our room leaders to enable them to maybe take on management of a nursery in future.”
Apprenticeship schemes have proven successful in the public sector as well with Devon County Council hiring a new intake of apprentice’s year on year.
22-year-old Tom Satterly is an apprentice in the Council’s Economy and Enterprise department, he said: “I know too many people who’ve had part-time jobs which became full time jobs and that’s it.
“I was working in a warehouse and also doing data entry but neither of these jobs had any real future in them. I enjoy the challenge of working at the council, it’s honestly the best job I’ve ever had; a huge step-up from anything I’ve done before.
“With an apprenticeship you get money, practical experience and above all confidence which you don’t necessarily get elsewhere. To be happy in my job is the biggest aspiration I have for my career.”
Now in its seventh year, National Apprenticeship Week is designed to celebrate Apprenticeships and the positive impact they have on individuals, businesses and the wider economy.
Ahead of a visit to BT, who recently announced that they would take on 730 more apprentices over the next year, Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, Vince Cable, said:
“As we kick off National Apprenticeship Week it’s good to see that employers are increasingly recognising the value apprentices can bring to their businesses. Apprentices are now a key and valued part of the workforce for most businesses large or small – and the huge increase which this Government has overseen is one of my proudest achievements.
“Given the grants available to help small businesses take on apprentices, it’s especially good that so many SMEs are embracing apprenticeships in the coming years and that apprentice recruitment now forms a key part of a businesses’ plans for sustainable growth.”
More than 1,000 events will be held across the country over the next few days to celebrate the positive impacts Apprenticeships have on young people, adults, businesses and the economy.
Gavin Patterson, Chief Executive of BT, said: “BT’s creating more than 700 new apprenticeships in the coming year, including a new digital media technology training scheme. I’m delighted we can play an extremely positive role by hiring these new apprentices and advancing their skills through mentoring and training.
“Apprenticeships really deliver for our business. Hiring apprentices helps BT grow our own talent by developing a motivated, skilled and qualified workforce. And for the apprentices, an Apprenticeship is a way for them to earn while they learn in a real job, gaining a real qualification and a real future.”
