Chamber Training

Star of the month award for UHCW apprentice

Coventry & Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce Training (CWCT) and University Hospital Coventry and Warwickshire (UHCW) NHS Trust are celebrating the success of apprentice Chloe Pettitt, who has been recognised by her colleagues as the first-ever ‘Star of the Month’ within UHCW.

Chloe’s success is testament to the strength of the partnership between CWCT and UHCW in successfully delivering apprenticeships as part of the NHS’s workforce development strategy.

Chloe joined UHCW in September 2020 as a Healthcare Assistant Apprentice. Despite being in the midst of a pandemic, aged 16 and with no prior experience, she has demonstrated utmost dedication, motivation and commitment, with strong ambitions to progress with a view to becoming a nursing associate.

Chloe said: “The staff at Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber Training have been very supportive, open and honest and I can always approach them with ease. The training I have received has bridged gaps in my knowledge and helped me to apply that theory to practice when I’m on the ward.”

Commenting on Chloe’s award, Samantha Smith, Ward Manager said: “Chloe’s role involves patient care including supporting with nutrition and hydration, personal care such as washing and dressing, things that people really value to support patients to maintain independence and dignity, most of all, she treats everyone as an individual. She is very professional at all times and is never afraid to ask questions in order to further develop her skills and support her patients and peers.

“Within the neurology department, some patients have cognitive or behavioural problems and require enhanced support. Chloe provides such support very well and clearly demonstrates that she can also deal with sensitive or distressing situations. She embraces Trust Values and behaviours at all times, which is a key quality for a member of the team.

“Although Chloe has only been with us for a short while, she has excelled both theoretically and practically in her role, and this is demonstrated in her professionalism and work ethic. She is always engaged in everything she does and, as her Star of the Month feedback alluded to, she is supportive, hardworking and always ready with a smile. Chloe is a real asset to the team on Ward 42 and to the apprenticeship programme. She should be really proud of what she has achieved and I imagine only more great things will follow.”

All apprentices at the trust are also given training and pastoral care provided by the apprenticeship team.

Kirstie Elliott, Apprenticeship Advisor at UHCW said “We are extremely proud of Chloe and her commitment and dedication, she is a fantastic role model for others and we look forward to watching how Chloe will reach her end goal of becoming a nursing associate.”

A joined up approach to Apprenticeship Training

Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce Training (CWCT) are celebrating their recent success in securing a joint contract with Coventry City Council and Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council to provide higher-level apprenticeship training to the adult social care sector.

Chamber Training will be working in partnership with the local authorities to deliver the Lead Practitioner in Adult Social Care Level 4 apprenticeship which will run over a three-year period. In what was a highly competitive tendering round, Chamber Training used its vast experience of delivering high quality apprenticeships across Coventry and Warwickshire to secure the opportunity. Sally Lucas, Executive Director at Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber Training said: “We have worked in partnership with Coventry City Council and Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council for several

Sally Lucas, Executive Director at Chamber years. It is extremely pleasing to be given

Training the chance to extend our partnership with both local authorities and deliver a tailored apprenticeship programme to upskill and enhance vital members of the adult social care teams across the localities. “The apprenticeship will provide individuals with specialist skills and knowledge, enabling them to lead in areas such as care needs assessment, occupational therapy, physiotherapy, rehabilitation and enablement, telecare and assistive technologies. On completion, individuals will play a role in coaching and mentoring others, assessing performance and quality of care delivery.

“At Chamber Training we offer a wide range of apprenticeships with employers across Coventry, Warwickshire and the wider West Midlands. Apprenticeships offer a great way to develop a career path, build valuable experience and make a positive contribution in the workplace. They provide employers with a great way of recruiting new staff and upskilling the existing team.”

Following on from Sally’s comments, Andy Hyland, Organisational Advisor at Coventry City Council said: “We are excited at the prospect of working closely with the specialist team at Chamber Training, joining forces across our two local authorities.

“At Coventry City Council we are passionate about and committed to employing apprentices. As a diverse and inclusive employer with a wide range of jobs and professions, we are keen to increase the number of apprenticeship opportunities available to new and existing staff. An apprenticeship provides the opportunity to gain new skills and knowledge, empowering individuals to make a difference within their roles. “By joining forces with Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council, and with the support of Chamber Training, we will

be able to develop a unique programme, where best practice is shared and new ideas explored.” Jenny Holmes, Adults Principal Social Worker Adult Care and Support Directorate at Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council added: “We are really excited in Solihull to be able to offer practitioners the opportunity to undertake the Lead Practitioner in Adult Social Care apprenticeship; this being the first time that this has been on offer to our staff. “This is a fantastic opportunity for individuals to build upon and develop their Andy Hyland, Organisational Development existing skills and knowledge working in Adult Social Care, many of which are key Advisor at Coventry City Council in supporting a strengths-based approach to practice. The programme on offer from Chamber Training means that practitioners will be able to learn and develop in a variety of ways and they will benefit from the chance to join staff from Coventry City Council in workshops and teaching sessions, promoting shared learning across teams and service areas.”

To find out more about the Lead Practitioner in Adult Social Care Apprenticeship, please call Chamber Training’s Business Development Team on 024 7623 1122 or enquiries@cw-chambertraining.co.uk

Jenny Holmes, Adults Principal Social Worker Adult Care and Support Directorate at Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council

Apprenticeship Levy Funding for Coventry SMEs

Coventry & Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce Training (CWCT) is working in partnership with Coventry City Council (CCC) to support smaller employers based in the City or Coventry residents working in the wider region through their apprenticeship levy, part of which can be transferred to support apprenticeship training costs. The CCC apprenticeship levy transfer fund is available to support a variety of apprenticeships, upskilling existing members of staff or new recruits.

One example of a business that has recently benefited from this is the Society for the Environment, the body responsible for the registration of environmental professionals. The funding was used to support the apprenticeship of Katie Wilcox, who is following a Business Administrator apprenticeship at level 3. Katie has gone on to develop her communication skills and has used her enhanced ICT skills to enhance the company website, learnt how to create videos and podcasts as part of the company’s social media. The apprenticeship has enabled Katie to increase her confidence, make a strong contribution to the team and take on more responsibility within in her role.

Commenting on the success Elaine Rutherford, Operations Manager at Society for the Environment said: “Coventry City Council have been excellent in helping the Society to arrange funding, especially during lockdown. Having invested time and energy to find the right course for Katie, the funding has been invaluable as it has helped to plug the skills gap in the organisation, identify talent in other areas which have opened up exciting opportunities. It has greatly improved our company performance, accuracy and quality of work. I would recommend all companies to follow suit in applying for funding. “Chamber Training’s apprenticeship programme has certainly helped Katie to become more productive and supported her with taking on additional responsibilities.”

In the words of Katie: “This training has really pushed me to learn new skills within my job role, boosting my capabilities and potential, and teaching me that self-improvement is the key to success in everything that I do.”

Natalie Lane, an Account Manager at Chamber Training said: “Coventry City Council’s support for small to medium businesses, through the apprenticeship levy Elaine Rutherford, transfer is enabling Operations companies to build the Manager at Society for the Environment skills they need to thrive. It’s a simple, straight forward process to request apprenticeship levy funding and it can really make an impact on the future success of a business. We are delighted that Society for the Environment was able to develop Katie as an apprentice and we wish her all the best in her chosen career path. “We urge SMEs to get in touch with us to find out if they are eligible to access this financial support. Coventry City Council is particularly interested in transferring funds to employers that can commit to recruiting people from Coventry as apprentices for care leavers, young people, particularly those who are not in education, employment or training, parents or carers looking to return to work and people with disabilities.”

To find out more, contact a member of the

Katie Wilcox, Apprentice at Society Business Development Team at Chamber Training on 024 7623 1122 or for the Environment enquiries@cw-chambertraining.co.uk

Natalie Lane, Account Manager at Chamber Training

Training Courses 2021

Chamber Member Price + VAT

Non-Member Price + VAT Duration Jul 21 Aug 21 Sept 21

Managing Difficult People £110.00 £135.00 Half Day - AM 6 Understanding Discipline in the Workplace £110.00 £135.00 Half Day - PM 6 Microsoft Excel - Basic to Intermediate (FULLY BOOKED) £130.00 £160.00 1 Day 7 Setting Goals & Targets £110.00 £135.00 Half Day - AM 13 Microsoft Excel - Intermediate to Advanced £130.00 £160.00 1 Day Microsoft Excel - Advanced Plus £130.00 £160.00 1

Customer Service Essentials Complaint Handling Professional Telephone Techniques Professional Email Writing Emergency First Aid in the Workplace (HSE Recommended) Key Account Management £110.00 £135.00 Half Day - AM £110.00 £135.00 Half Day - PM £110.00 £135.00 Half Day - AM £110.00 £135.00 Half Day - PM £115.00 £140.00 Full Day £110.00 £135.00 Half Day - PM 11