B&FC for Business January Newsletter

Your quarterly update January-April 2023

Industry placements

Industry placements are a brilliant way to build your future workforce, equipping them with industry skills and a fresh perspective on your business. At Blackpool and The Fylde College, industry placements generally last up to 45 days and are for students of all ages, backgrounds and with many different skills and experiences. The longest industry placements will be offered from September to T Level students; school leavers who already have a clear idea of their future career. To find out more about T Levels at B&FC, visit blackpool.ac.uk/t-levels

What’s in it for us?

Hiring a placement student comes with a myriad of benefits. Not only do you have an extra resource for projects and increased capacity to accept more work, but you also have a fresh pair of eyes to give an outside perspective on your business. While this helps you to understand how your business is viewed, thus impacting future strategy, it also encourages new creative and innovative ideas. What’s more, industry placements can be used as a stepping stone towards offering apprenticeships, giving you the chance to directly assess an individual’s potential to fit into your business.

In times like these, with the cost-ofliving crisis beginning to bite and the effects of Brexit still looming large, industry placements are a cost-effective method of filling the skills gaps in your workforce. And it doesn’t stop there. Hiring an industry placement student opens mentoring opportunities for your existing employees. Upskilling your current workforce at no extra cost not only benefits your business directly, but makes those employees feel valued, challenged and developed, leading to higher morale and motivation in the workplace.

How does it work?

B&FC are here to ensure that our students are ready to be productive members of your team and add value to your business. You will receive support at every stage of the process, from recruiting an industry placement student to planning the timeline and objectives of that placement.

“Blackpool and The Fylde College have always provided an outstanding service and we cannot recommend them highly enough. A professional, friendly team who are easy to deal with and quickly resolve any queries we may have. Their courses are well run and the onsite new facilities are fantastic.”

“We have been working with B&FC for over 5 years now and they have helped us secure some of the best staff we’ve ever had. The tutors are incredibly attentive and really help to nurture the apprentices. The engineering department has one of the best workshops I’ve seen, there is nothing that can’t be made in that workshop.”

Bri-Met Ltd

Hello, my name is Katherine Higgins and I am the Client Relationship Manager Team Leader at Blackpool and The Fylde College. I manage a team of Client Relationship Managers who deal with the training and apprenticeships for large businesses locally, regionally and nationally such as the NHS, Rolls Royce and Royal Mail. I also manage a portfolio of levy clients personally, specialising in the Health and Social Care sector.

I joined B&FC in 2013, starting at our Fleetwood Nautical campus, supporting seafarers from all over the world with their industry specific courses. This included delivering training in Mumbai to strengthen our overseas relationships.

I have worked with apprenticeships since 2017 and have graduated from a Higher Apprenticeship in Leadership and Management myself; an experience I use to give businesses an insight from the apprentice perspective.

Developing people. driving success. since 1892.

Can we afford to offer an industry placement?

“B&FC can help businesses upskill their current employees to meet not just their immediate needs, but future opportunities too!”

Katherine Higgins Client Relationship Manager Team Leader

Fylde Coast Accident Repair Centre Ltd

Developing people. driving success. since 1892.

Automotive opportunities

Commercial training course Electric and Hybrid Vehicles System Repair and Replacement Level 3

This course is designed for anyone who needs to work on electric vehicles as part of the maintenance or repair process. In successfully completing this course, students will have the significant core knowledge, skills and the ability to remove and replace Electric/Hybrid vehicle components and will receive an IMI Level 3 Qualification.

As the UK transitions away from diesel and petrol fuelled vehicles, the demand for skills and knowledge in electric vehicles will only continue to rise. Get in front of demand with this course, which lasts for 2 days and costs just £495.

For more information, visit our website at blackpool.ac.uk/ EV1EE8129 or email business@blackpool.ac.uk

Advanced Apprenticeship Accident Repair Technician Level 3

This apprenticeship lasts for 28 months, dependent on previous experience and achievement and covers how to repair all elements of a vehicle after it has sustained collision damage.

To enrol onto the apprenticeship, employees must be over 16 and working a minimum of 30 hours per week.

For more information, visit our website at blackpool.ac.uk/ EN00097 or email business@blackpool.ac.uk

Apprenticeships are often seen as a way to nurture new talent within the business, but did you know that you can offer an apprenticeship to an existing employee? Offering apprenticeships as a way to upskill your current workforce means that you can create a highly skilled, experienced labour force to take on the challenges of today and tomorrow.

Leadership opportunities

Advanced Apprenticeship Team leader/Supervisor Level 3

Managing teams is both an art and a science. A team leader or supervisor is a first line management role with operational and product responsibilities for managing a team. Specific responsibilities will vary from sector to sector but the knowledge, skills and behaviours will be the same despite the role. This apprenticeship will lead students in the right direction to become well-rounded leaders, requiring them

to learn and demonstrate a range of leadership and management skills to drive, develop and lead a team.

While you may wish to attract new talent, this apprenticeship is also a great way to upskill and invest in existing staff.

Choosing to nurture existing talent means those employees already have knowledge of the business and can build on their current skills set. What’s more, they feel a valued member of the business, leading to greater satisfaction and retention.

If you are interested in offering the Team Leader/Supervisor apprenticeship, visit our website at blackpool.ac.uk/WP00036 or email business@blackpool.ac.uk

blackpool . ac.uk