Hugh Baird College is marking National Apprenticeship Week 2016 with a series of activities and events aimed at raising awareness of the opportunities an apprenticeship can bring.
The overarching theme for this year’s National Apprenticeship Week is ‘Rise to the top!’ focusing on progression and opportunity as a way to showcase the rich and diverse apprenticeship offer, from traineeships right through to higher and degree apprenticeships.
Throughout the week, Hugh Baird College’s Student Services Advisors are inviting employers and potential apprentices to drop in to their Information Sessions for a chat about how an apprenticeship programme could benefit them. They’ll be on hand in the College’s Balliol Centre between 10am and 4pm, Monday, 14th to Thursday, 17th March.
Hugh Baird College’s own full time 14-16 year old students, and those on the Prince’s Trust programme, will also benefit from the Apprenticeship Week activities. They’ll be taking part in a ‘Skills Swap’, shadowing apprentices at the College. They’ll have the chance to ask questions and find out what an apprenticeship is all about.
The College will also host the Royal Air Force for sessions with students from public services, information technology and engineering courses.
As well as activities organised within the College, Hugh Baird College’s team will also be joining the National Apprenticeship Week drive in high schools in the area. They’ll deliver information sessions to parents and pupils at Deyes High School and Hillside High School, as well as attending The ‘Your Future’ Careers Convention 2016 at Tranmere Football Club. This event, hosted by Wirral Chamber of Commerce, is aimed at inspiring young people to think about prospective careers and the employment and training options available to them, including traineeships, apprenticeships and higher apprenticeships.
An apprenticeship is a training programme designed to allow the learner to train within both an academic and true working environment. The main benefit of employing an apprentice is that the course allows them to begin work instantly whilst also improving their skill levels continuously. Apprentices can be integrated into an organisation whilst they study so that on the completion of the course they are fully prepared to become a well-rounded and adapted member of staff. As employees, apprentices earn a wage and work alongside experienced staff to gain job-specific skills from organisations operating within industry. Apprentices also receive training, on a day release basis, towards nationally recognised qualifications.
Traineeships are education and training programmes with a work placement that is focused on giving young people the skills and experience that employers are looking for. At their core are work preparation training, English and maths for those who need it, and a high quality work experience placement. Traineeships prepare young people for their future careers by helping them to become ‘work ready’.
National Apprenticeship Week is co-ordinated by the National Apprenticeship Service, and is designed to celebrate apprenticeships and the positive impact they have on individuals, businesses and the economy.
For more information on apprenticeships or traineeships, visit www.apprenticeships.org.uk. Alternatively, if you would like to take on an apprentice or would like to enrol as one yourself, contact Hugh Baird College’s Business Development Team team on 0151 353 4456 or enquiries-bdc@hughbaird.ac.uk.