The Apprenticeships 100 Day Challenge is on.
Warrington Collegiate in partnership with the Warrington Guardian is launching the third Apprenticeship 100-day challenge. Following the success of last year when the target of 100 apprenticeships in 100 days was superseded by over 50%. The college is urging individuals and businesses to discover for them the value and benefit of apprenticeships. The sky’s the limit!
Fact File
- Apprenticeships are available from the age of 16 to 65
- Apprenticeships can be studied at three levels –intermediate, advanced and higher
- Apprenticeships last a minimum of one year and one day
- The average wage for an apprentice is £130 per week
- Many apprenticeships offer routes to higher education
- Apprenticeships provide businesses with a young, motivated and skilled workforce, helping to bridge the developing skills gap between the UK and our economic competitors
Think Apprenticeships
Now is a great time to consider Apprenticeships. An Apprenticeship is more than a job: it’s about skills for life, combining practical skills at work with classroom theory. It will inspire, teach and train you to take your place in the skilled workforce that will carry Britain through the twenty-first century. Warrington Collegiate currently has over 1000 Apprentices and in 2013/14 the college supported 270 young people aged 16-18 into an Apprenticeship.
Apprenticeships help businesses grow their own talent.
- Apprenticeships increase motivation! 92% of employers taking on Apprentices noticed a more motivated workforce
- Apprentices increase productivity! 80% of employers report an increase in productivity in the workplace.
- Apprenticeships are a sound investment! 83% of Apprentice employers believe that they are investing in the future of their business.
Source: National Apprenticeship Service (NAS)
Apprenticeships are becoming increasingly popular among employers
There have been 1.5 million Apprenticeship starts since 2010 with 89% of employers said they’d do an Apprenticeship if they were starting their career now. Statistics show that 3 out of 10 senior management positions are filled by former Apprentices.
Source: Employment and Skills Group (ESG)
Employer Services at Warrington Collegiate will take the strain
If you are an employer who is new to Apprenticeships, Employer Services at Warrington Collegiate, supported by the National Apprenticeship Service, will provide all the free advice and guidance you need to get you started. Many employers use the free apprentice recruitment service, provided by the Employer Services Team. Sara Mulvey, owner and Marketing Director of BlackSheep Wools in Culcheth, explains, “They advertised the Apprenticeship vacancy for me and screened the candidates before sending on the applications and arranging the interviews. All the candidates I interviewed were of a high quality; they all had an interest in craft and lived locally.
So many to choose from….
Apprenticeships have undergone a makeover in recent years, with more than 250 Apprenticeship roles providing around 1,400 employment pathways on offer, from traditional industries such as bricklaying and site joinery to exciting opportunities in accountancy, IT and social media.
Apprenticeships, a chance to shine
Where will Apprenticeships take you? Former Warrington Collegiate Apprentice, Ashley Terron, didn’t stop at being the UK’s number one bricklayer; he went on to win gold at WorldSkillls International in Leipzig, 2013.
Becoming world champion meant Ashley, a strong advocate of Apprenticeships, was invited to talk the prime minister and deputy prime minister, influencing them by his passion and belief in their part in his success. Appearances on national TV, presentations at Apprenticeship Award Ceremonies and recognition by the Worshipful Company of Tylers and Bricklayers followed.
Ashley progressed from Warrington Collegiate to complete an HNC in Construction and Property Management at Salford University which helped him secure his present position as Assistant Site Manager with Redrow Homes.
Earlier this year Ashley was awarded the British Empire Medal in the Queens Birthday honours list as well as being selected as the City and Guild National Apprenticeship Champion of the Year, 2014
With an Apprenticeship you too can go on to achieve great success!
What next after your Apprenticeship?
After completing an Apprenticeship, the majority of apprentices (84%) will stay in employment; 64% with the same employer. An excellent example is 20 year old Owen Rabbit, now a fully qualified gas engineer after completing his Level 3 in Plumbing followed by a Diploma in Gas Utilisation. His technical skills, dedication and commitment impressed Paul Nunnen, Installations Manager at Solarking UK who employed him as an Apprentice in 2013.
An excellent student, both at college and in the workplace, Owen progressed quickly, demonstrating outstanding practical skills, excellent technical knowledge, as well as producing work of the highest quality. It was no surprise that Owen was named as Outstanding Apprentice of the Year (Plumbing) at the Warrington Collegiate Awards Ceremony 2013.
Owen is a perfect example of what hard work, determination and excellent training can achieve. In his spare time Owen has spoken about his journey to outstanding to inspire potential college students and apprentices.
“From an early age I knew I wanted to be a plumber, says Owen, “Being an apprentice is a great way to learn. It’s demanding, hands-on and combines the benefits of training in a real working environment with developing employability skills such as communication and a knowledge and insight into the world of business and industry.”
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Paul Nunnen, himself a former apprentice, is a firm believer in apprenticeships and their value for employers. “Apprentices bring a fresh approach to the business, up to date knowledge about the industry, new skills gained from college and most of all energy and enthusiasm to the workplace, says Paul, “We have high expectations of our apprentices. We invest a great deal of time and effort in our apprentices to get the best from them. We want them to shine, to become the high quality, skilled workforce we rely on to support the expansion of the company in the 21st century.”
Employers
Employers looking for an apprentice can call the Employer Hot Line on 01925 494703 for more information on financial support, selection and training of apprentices