Apprenticeships: Dispelling the myths
Fiona Harwood has seen the benefits that apprenticeship programmes can bring to a business. Here, she dispels some of the myths that surround apprenticeships to encourage SMEs to get involved. The education and training landscape is changing. Factors such as rising university tuition fees, youth unemployment and skill shortages in certain sectors are causing organisations […]
David Way: “Higher apprenticeships offer a real alternative to university”
To kick off National Apprenticeship Week (11-15 March), we interviewed the chief executive of the National Apprenticeship Service, David Way, about what we can expect from the initiative. Apart from growing since its inception, how else has National Apprenticeship Week changed over the last six years? Every year, we see National Apprenticeship Week gaining more […]
Employers get apprenticeship boost
Small and medium sized employers looking to offer apprenticeships in England have been given a boost as the National Apprenticeship Service announces moves to help even more employers recruit an apprentice. The government has confirmed an extension of the Apprenticeship Grant for Employers of 16-24 year olds (AGE 16-24) to March 2014. The £1,500 grant […]
Grow-your-own talent: why the benefits of apprenticeships outweigh the risks for SMEs
Ann Potterton argues that apprenticeships shouldn’t just be for the bigger fish in the pond. For many people running an SME can feel like walking a tightrope: a constant balancing act. The demands seem to be endless, there’s never enough time to get everything done, and in the current economic climate, survival often takes priority […]
An introduction to higher apprenticeships
Kevin Streater explains the concept of the higher apprenticeship, introduced by the previous government a couple of years ago. In his recent series on the history of apprenticeships, James Flanagan discussed the development of apprenticeships as a means to develop the skills that industry requires. Modern apprenticeships are successfully operating at scale at levels 2 (intermediate) […]
A history of apprenticeships pt2
James Flanagan concludes his overview of an ever-changing part of the L&D world. The transformation in the number and type of apprenticeships began in the late nineteenth century when apprenticeships had spread from artisan trades such as building and printing to the newer industries of engineering and shipbuilding – and later to plumbing and electrical […]
A history of apprenticeships pt1
To kick off apprenticeships month, James Flanagan gives us an overview of an ever-changing part of the L&D world. Anyone undertaking an apprenticeship today can do so with both a sense of pride and gratitude. Apprenticeships have a long tradition that has stood the test of time and the terms and range of apprenticeships offered today […]
Why we should be upskilling our workforce
Philip Whiteman, chief executive of sector skills council Semta discusses why science, engineering and manufacturing businesses should be upskilling their workforce and incorporating apprenticeships into their business plan. Despite being back in recession, the UK still has one of the world’s major manufacturing industries, contributing £140bn a year to the economy and over half of […]
Majority of employers shun apprenticeships, survey reveals
Only one in five employers has taken on an apprentice over the last year, with the majority harbouring negative perceptions of the current workplace training system, a survey has revealed. And despite the personal urging of Prime Minister for businesses to take on more such trainees– even fewer firms (15%) plan to go down this […]
Government launches £25m Higher Apprenticeships Fund
The government has announced a £25m fund to suppport 10,000 advanced and higher apprenticeships. The Higher Apprenticeships Fund will support the expansion of apprenticeships in industries that have an unmet demand in skills such as advanced manufacturing, information technology and engineering. Funding for the apprenticeships, which will start from October 2011, will be delivered through […]
Learning providers call for joined up approach on skills
If the UK is to create a sustainable jobs market, the coalition government must develop joined up policies around welfare-to-work and apprenticeship-focused skills provision, learning providers have warned. Martin Dunford, chairman of the Association of Employment and Learning Providers, formerly known as the Association of Learning Providers, told the organisation’s annual conference in London yesterday […]
Intern and apprenticeship pay to be reviewed
The Low Pay Commission has been tasked with evaluating whether young people taking up internships should be paid and to review whether apprentices currently receive a fair wage. The coalition government has also asked the Commission to examine how current National Minimum Wage regulations could be simplified and made easier to administer as well as […]
Young apprentices hang in the balance
Stephen Studd, chief executive of SkillsActive Group, explores the highly successful Young Apprenticeship programme that is yet to hear of the Government’s continued commitment. Very few can escape the national headlines reporting on Britain’s jobless; a staggering 20% of 16 – 24 year olds are now out of work. It certainly is an extremely challenging […]
University is not the be all and end all
Ian Harper discusses the challenges facing young people today and some of the changes that need to be made to ensure a smooth transition from education to the workplace. It was estimated that 160,000 students were left out in the cold by universities this year, due to the sheer number of applications. Despite another year […]
Hilton sets up apprenticeship scheme
An international hotel chain has set up a Chef Apprenticeship Academy, which will fully fund each place and provide participants with a salary during the programme. The academy, which will be opened by Hilton Worldwide early next month, is to take on 20 apprentices who will undertake a combination of college-based courses and on-the-job training […]
BT considers increasing its apprenticeship places
High levels of youth unemployment that led to BT receiving more than 100 applications for each of its apprenticeship places mean that the telecoms provider is now considering whether to expand the scheme. The company had nearly 24,000 applications for the 221 positions that were available this year – more than the total number of […]
Interview with Apprentice-winner Tim Campbell
In an interview with Dan Martin, editor of our sister site BusinessZone.co.uk, The former apprentice winner and newly-appointed training ambassador to Boris Johnson, talks about the importance of apprenticeships and more. bits://v/TpgDCqhx-kCMmvSXN In an interview with Dan Martin, editor of our sister site BusinessZone.co.uk, The former apprentice winner and newly-appointed training ambassador to Boris Johnson, […]
Sellafield hits top spot at the Apprenticeship Awards
At the Apprenticeship Awards earlier this month, the best apprenticeship employers were rewarded for their efforts with recognition from the best in the industry. Cath Everett reports. Sellafield won the top accolade at the Apprenticeship Awards ceremony in London for making the most effective use of its trainees in order to meet the needs of […]
Live blog: Junior Apprentice final!
As the first series of Junior Apprentice draws to a close, TrainingZone.co.uk editor and business reality TV blogger Verity Gough will be live blogging the final as Lord Sugar reveals which wannabe tycoon is crowned the winner. The action kicks off on Thursday 10 June at 9pm on BBC1. Junior Apprentice final: Live blog As the first […]
Government launches National Apprenticeship Week
The government today launched National Apprenticeship Week, celebrating the commitment of employers to recruit apprentices and urging people to look at the benefits to their skills and career of becoming an apprentice. Major UK employers are expecting to hire thousands of apprentices in 2010 and the government is encouraging all businesses to take up […]
