APPRENTICESHIPS

They are work-based training programmes designed around the needs of employers, which lead to national recognised qualifications. Apprenticeships can make your organisation more effective, productive and competitive by addressing your skills gaps directly, even in uncertain economic times.

You can use Apprenticeships to train both new and existing employees. Funding is available to train apprentices. The Apprenticeship programme has been designed to help your employees reach a high level of competency and performance and with over 180 different types of Apprenticeships, there’s bound to be a place for an apprentice in your organisation.

Apprenticeships are designed by the Sector Skills Councils (part of the Skills for Business network), while the National Apprenticeship Service helps to fund the training.

Business representatives from the relevant industry sector work with the Sector Skills Councils to develop the course content. Because they genuinely understand your business, the training will be relevant for your industry.

This is up to you. Most of the training is ‘on the job’ at your premises. The rest can be provided by a local college or by a specialist learning provider, or in some cases you could deliver everything yourself.

The Learning and Skills Council recently surveyed businesses throughout the UK on benefits of hiring an apprentice (Populus, January 2009). Of those surveyed:

• 81% said that employing apprentices generated higher overall productivity for their company.
• 66% said that their Apprenticeship programme made them more competitive in their industry.
• 92% said that their Apprenticeship programme better motivated staff and increased job satisfaction.
• 74% said that apprentices tended to be more loyal, remaining at their company longer than non-apprentices.

Thousands of businesses across Britain have already benefited from taking on and training apprentices, which is an excellent and cost-effective way to invest in an organisation's future.

City of Wolverhampton College is one of the leading employee training providers in the West Midlands with its dedicated Employer Services team currently working with business across Birmingham, Walsall, Wolverhampton, Coventry and across the UK.

Apprenticeships offer young people the opportunity to launch their careers by combining work-based training with education that leads to qualifications.

Contributing to their chosen business, the young people earn as they learn and follow a structured training programme as the first step on a long-term employment path. The Apprentice programmes are offered at both Level 2 and advanced Level 3.

By providing apprenticeships:

• you will find it easier to recruit able young people
• they will be equipped with the knowledge to do the job well
• because apprenticeships are designed by businesses in your sector; training will be relevant to your organisation
• employees will be encouraged to stay and progress within your company
• you will be acquiring skills for your business that allow you to keep abreast of changes
• you will be developing your workforce for the future - including potential supervisors and managers.

Apprenticeships are available to anyone from the age of 16 who wishes to become experienced and trained in a particular industry, whether they are new or already employed in the sector. The duration of training depends on the chosen vocational area and level. Achieving the full Apprenticeship Framework can take from 12 to 48 months. Trainees receive some pay while learning (although this will be less than a full-time employee would get).

• Accountancy
• Beauty Therapy
• Business Administration
• Business Improvement Techniques
• Childcare
• Construction Trades
• Creative Industries
• Customer Services
• Electrical
• Engineering
• Floristry
• Hairdressing & Barbering
• Health & Social Care
• Horticulture
• Hospitality & Catering
• IT
• Management & Team Leading
• Marketing
• Motor Vehicle
• Retail
• Sport & Leisure

Apprenticeships are designed to be easy for employers and young people, so the college takes care of all aspects of training and delivery. As a training provider we will:

• provide a learner training plan in accordance with the job requirements
• recruit an apprentice for you or enrol an existing member of your staff on the scheme
• regularly visit apprentices at work, to observe and review them.
• ensure best practice, and that national quality standards are met
• provide and deliver quality training.
• All we ask of you is to:
• release your apprentices on day release for training
• allow time to take Key Skills/Technical Certificate exams (if relevant)
• provide assessment/review time within the workplace
• consider scheduling activities for your apprentices that will provide training and professional development opportunities.

Over three-quarters of respondents expect apprenticeships to play a bigger part in their recruitment policy in the future.