Posted: 28/01/11
College to show apprentices are good for business
West Nottinghamshire College is marking national Apprenticeship Week (7-11 February) with a series of events promoting the benefits of apprenticeships to young people and employers.
The events will highlight the advantages of taking on an apprentice in the workplace and showcase the range of opportunities available.
Employers in the social care sector in Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire can learn more about funding, training and progression routes from pre-employment training through to apprenticeship programmes on Monday 7 February, from 10.30am – 12pm.
Attendees can discover more about social care apprenticeships available through the college’s Vision Apprentices scheme – a recruitment and employment service that offers businesses the flexibility to hire apprentices from Vision or employ them directly.
Speakers include representatives from JobCentre Plus, Making the Connection, National Apprenticeship Service (NAS), Skills for Care – the sector skills council for social care –and West Nottinghamshire College.
It will be followed by two further events on Tuesday 8 February.
From 9.30am – 11.30am, employers can learn more about the value an apprentice can bring to their business and how training can be tailored to their company’s specific needs.
Advice on government funding and recruitment and training solutions is also available, while employers can learn about Vision Apprentices and what it can do for them.
An apprenticeship open evening takes place from 6pm – 8pm, where aspiring apprentices can explore opportunities available across a range of sectors.
Hosted by Vision Apprentices, people can find out how they can earn a wage while combining work with study, and gain valuable qualifications in areas such as accounting, business administration, beauty therapy, logistics and warehousing, motor vehicle, rail maintenance, professional cookery amongst others.
Current vacancies will be on offer, along with the chance to speak to experienced staff and register on Vision Apprentices’ recruitment database.
Guest speaker is Trevor Finn, chief executive of Pendragon Plc, the world’s fourth largest automotive dealer group.
Mr Finn, who began his career as an apprentice technician and rapidly rose through the motor vehicle industry to become the youngest-ever service manager in BMW’s network, will be speaking about forward-thinking and innovative approaches to business and the role of apprenticeships in industry today.
All three events take place in the Vision Room at the college’s Derby Road campus in Mansfield.
Graham Howe, director of employer engagement at West Nottinghamshire College and managing director of Vision Apprentices, said: “There’s never been a better time for employers and individuals to consider an apprenticeship.
“An increasing number of businesses are realising the benefits that they bring, both in creating a highly-skilled workforce and boosting productivity.
“Apprenticeships are a great way for young people to begin their career, allowing them to earn while they learn, with the potential to secure permanent employment after they’ve completed their apprenticeship. What’s more, their apprenticeship is fully-funded, so they have no debt to worry about.
“Our events during Apprenticeship Week offer employers and young people the chance to find out more about the apprenticeship opportunities that are right for them.”
For further details of these events, visit www.wnc.ac.uk
