Staffordshire joins in this year’s celebrations for National Apprenticeship Week
Staffordshire is joining in this year’s celebrations for National Apprenticeship Week with the first Ambassador Event of the year focusing on skills and the launch of a new prospectus to showcase the offer across the county.
‘Skills for Life’ is the theme for this year’s campaign, which aims to showcase and celebrate apprenticeships, apprentices, employers, training providers, schools, colleges and universities. The week also aims to promote the huge benefits of apprenticeships and highlight the progression opportunities for those choosing them.
In Staffordshire, apprenticeships continue to play a vital role in growing the local economy and last year 6,300 people started an apprenticeship. More apprenticeship opportunities are still needed to meet the demand from young people, as is the need for more higher-level apprenticeships.
Over 100 attendees, including further education students and employers joined We Are Staffordshire on Monday morning to hear from a panel of experts sharing their perspectives on skills, training opportunities and apprenticeships, including representatives from Newcastle & Stafford Colleges Group, Stoke on Trent College, Alton Towers, University Hospital North Midlands, The HEX Group and Staffordshire Partnership for Employment and Skills. Charlotte Allen, a Level 3 Engineering Technician Apprentice from the HEX Group shared her experiences of life as an apprentice, giving an insight into the opportunities that this pathway has given her.
Charlotte said: “As a school leaver, I thought my only options after school were sixth form, university or college.
Now, in the third year of my apprenticeship, I am so glad I get to share my experience and knowledge with other learners so they know there is more to higher education than college and university.
I love to learn, and being an apprentice at The HEX Group has given me a well-rounded education. I’ve had the opportunity to not only learn about engineering, but also how a business runs and the behaviours that are expected within a workplace.
With the completion date of my apprenticeship quickly approaching, I’ll soon have my guaranteed job offer from The HEX Group. I’d love to end up in a customer-facing role like sales and continue to expand my knowledge in all things HEX!
It was such an honour to be a part of the Staffordshire Ambassadors panel debate, and I’d love to be a part of similar events in the future to educate more people on all apprenticeships have to offer”
The new Staffordshire Skills Prospectus was launched at the event and is a new resource outlining the county-wide commitment to skills, the support network for business, places of learning and projects which are transforming education across Staffordshire.
Staffordshire County Council recently launched its new Jobs and Careers service, which provides a single point of contact for both residents and businesses. People can get advice on job opportunities, careers and training, and businesses can get advice on recruitment and meeting their workforce requirements.
Philip White, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Economy and Skills at Staffordshire County Council said:
“Once again, it’s great to be celebrating National Apprenticeship Week and promoting the benefits of apprenticeships to both employers and apprentices.
“Skills are the life blood of any economy and having a skilled workforce is essential if we are to grow the Staffordshire economy and attract further investment and more businesses.
“We already have an expanding economy in Staffordshire with a lot of highly skilled jobs available so there are great opportunities for people with the right training. It’s great to see people choosing the apprenticeship route and enjoying the career and earning advantages an apprenticeship opens up.”
The county will also be hosting its 9th Apprenticeship Graduation Ceremony on 9 July 2024 which allows apprentices to graduate putting them on an equal footing with a university route to success.
On Wednesday, 21st February, 17:30 – 19:30, The HEX Group is hosting an open evening to give potential apprentices and their families an opportunity to tour The HEX Group facilities in Hixon, Staffordshire, meet the apprenticeship team and talk to current apprentices about their experiences of the programme. To find out more, click here.
People can find out more about apprenticeships in Staffordshire here.
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