National Apprenticeship Week
This week is National Apprenticeship Week – the time when all eyes are on apprenticeships and the positive impact they have on individuals and businesses.
Now in its fifth year, National Apprenticeship Week is designed to celebrate apprenticeships and raise their profile amongst employers, individuals, teachers, parents and the media.
Run by the National Apprenticeship Service, a huge range of organisations support the week by organising activities including employers, apprentices, business support and sector organisations, learning providers, colleges and schools.
To mark the campaign Vision West Nottinghamshire College is staging the following activities and events:
Monday 6 February – Susan Pember, director of further education and skills investment at the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS), will visit the college to meet with current apprentices and hear about their progress.
Tuesday 7 February – An apprenticeship open evening takes place at the college’s Derby Road campus from 6-8pm for people to learn about the range of apprenticeships available and the careers they can lead to. Visitors can also put their practical skills to the test courtesy of interactive stands.
Tuesday 7 and Wednesday 8 February – A host of ‘try a trade’ sessions take place across the college for young people interested in careers in multimedia, fabrication and welding, motorcycle engineering and computer science.
Saturday 11 February – People can discuss apprenticeship opportunities with staff from the college and its recruitment service, Vision Apprentices, at Nottingham City Council’s Apprenticeships Fair. Information about current apprenticeship vacancies and how to apply for them will be available at the event at Nottingham Conference Centre, Burton Street, from 10am to 1pm.
Sandra Cowley, head of employer engagement at Vision West Nottinghamshire College and director of Vision Apprentices, said: “Apprenticeships are a great way for people to start their career. Not only do apprentices gain employment and valuable skills, they also gain recognised qualifications leading to fantastic career progression opportunities.
“Furthermore, research shows that apprentices earn on average over £100,000 more throughout their lifetime than other non-qualified employees.
“More businesses are recognising the benefits an apprentice can bring to their business and realise it’s a great way of investing in their workforce. Apprenticeship Week will help spread this message even further.”
Click here to read how Mansfield teenager Hayley Waterhouse is benefitting from an apprenticeship.
Did you know…
- Vision West Nottinghamshire Colleges has its own apprenticeship recruitment service – Vision Apprentices. This is a free employment and apprenticeship vacancy-matching service that offers businesses the flexibility to hire apprentices from Vision or employ them directly.
- Vision Apprentices has grown to become the biggest Apprentice Training Association in the country since its launch in 2010 and now offers apprenticeship opportunities in a range of sectors including rail maintenance, motor vehicle, professional cookery, engineering and business administration, among many others.
- To date the service has supported almost 1,200 people into employment through apprenticeships and boasts an impressive success rate – appointing suitable candidates into 97% of advertised vacancies.
- Vision Apprentices has an 85.7% apprenticeship achievement rate – the highest in Nottinghamshire.
- The college holds the largest apprenticeship contract within England and works with over 500 organisations as far north as Berwick-upon-Tweed, Northumberland, down to Devon and Cornwall.
To find out about apprenticeship opportunities call Vision Apprentices on 0800 121 8317 or visit www.visionapprentices.co.uk