APPRENTICESHIPS
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MARCH 6-12, 2014 | SPONSORED FEATURE i PAGE 26-34
Building Futures Apprenticeships are about giving everyone from all sections of society “ the chance to reach their potential. This year’s National Apprenticeship
Week is bigger than ever. Across the country more and more people are recognising the long overlooked value of technical skills, and just how valuable Apprenticeships are. Apprenticeships deliver work for young people and adults, giving apprentices the chance to earn while they learn in a real job, gaining a real qualification and a real future. Since becoming Skills Minister, I have said that I want the new to be for young people to either choose to go to university or begin an apprenticeship. This is starting to become a reality.
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It’s great that The Voice is helping us to get the message out that apprenticeships give people the skills they need to succeed in a huge range of jobs and industries. Progress has been made in increasing the take up of apprenticeships in black and ethnic minority communities but there is always more to be done and I would encourage all people to consider what an apprenticeship can offer. Employers regularly tell me their businesses benefit hugely from the diversity and fresh thinking that apprentices from a diverse range of backgrounds bring, and with firms large and small taking on apprentices up and down the country there are some great opportunities out there.
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Matthew Hancock MP, Skills and Enterprise Minister
MARCH 6 - 12, 2014 THE VOICE | 27
TOP 10 REASONS
to consider an Apprenticeship Apprenticeships are on the rise and have been at the forefront of the news agenda recently so to help challenge some of the myths and confusion. Here are the top ten reasons to consider an Apprenticeship.
1. EARN WHILE YOU LEARN: An Apprenticeship is a way for young people and adults to earn while they learn in a real job, gaining a real qualification and a real future. Time and time again apprentices enforce the importance of earning while they learn. . 2. SHINE AT WHAT YOU ARE GOOD AT: Currently, more than 100,000 employers in England offer Apprenticeships in 200,000 locations, covering over 170 industries and 1,500 different job roles, in a range of sectors from marketing to accountancy, engineering to veterinary nursing, community arts to construction. Enabling you to shine wherever your enthusiasm and interest is sparked. 3. WORK TO GET QUALIFIED: Many people who don’t want to stay in a traditional classroom environment find that work-based learning and study with an Apprenticeship allows them to progress much further. High achievers are also finding Apprenticeships really enable them to get ahead in their careers, with a combination of work and study that means they can be well on their way within an industry, qualified and earning a decent salary before many university graduates have even had their first job offer. Higher Apprenticeships, for example, offer a new way to enter professional careers and gain valuable work experience while achieving a degreelevel qualification. Over 40 different subjects are covered with Higher Apprenticeships, ranging from commercial airline piloting to legal services,
representing hundreds of job roles. 4. REAL-WORK EXPERIENCE: Builds your confidence and your skills. The on-the-job experience is often the most rapid way of learning about an industry and apprentices comment on how it builds not only their work-experience but their confidence and personal skills beyond the job itself. Most apprentices work for at least 30 hours a week, apart from in exceptional circumstances. 5. GAIN INSIGHT (AND SAVE MONEY): An Apprenticeship gives you an insight into a particular industry sector and builds valuable skills. Even if you decide you to move into to another profession later, during your Apprenticeship you will have built work experience, a wide range of skills and gained a qualification that will be transferable across different industries and businesses. You’ll also have ‘earned as you learned’, avoiding a large student debt. 6. BUILD A CAREER: A high proportion of apprentices go on to work in their chosen industry for the rest of their working life. Many apprentices will get to realise the title of Director, Managing Director or run their own business successfully (e.g. Steve Gelder MBE Founder and Director of the Gelder Group and Nigel Whitehead, Group Managing Director of Programmes & Support at BAE Systems. 7. BUILD A FUTURE: After finishing, the majority of apprentices (85%) will stay in employment, with two-thirds
(64%) staying with the same employer. (Source: Evaluation of Apprenticeships for Learners, BIS, May 2012). A third (32%) of all former apprentices had received a promotion within 12 months of finishing, and of those in work, three quarters (75%) reported taking on more responsibility in their job. Employers think that qualified apprentices are 15% more employable than those with other qualifications. (Source: ICM Employers Research, 2013) 8. NOT JUST FOR 16 YEAR OLDS: Anyone living in England who is over 16 years old and not in full-time education can apply to be an apprentice. 9. DON’T FOLLOW THE CROWD: Your first chance to start an Apprenticeship is when you leave school. Almost no matter what your vocation, the scope of job roles that Apprenticeships can offer today means that by not following the crowd you could open-up a life-time opportunity. 10. APPRENTICES LOVE APPRENTICESHIPS: Listen to what other apprentices say at about their experiences at apprentice.tv. And moreover employers love Apprenticeships too – with 71% recommending them. Up to 20,000 quality Apprenticeship vacancies are available online at any one time. Search and apply for vacancies at apprenticeships.org.uk and download the Av Search smartphone app to find vacancies on the move with your iPhone or Android device.
YOU’RE HIRED!
COMMUNITY ROADSHOWS IN 2014 Discover how to start your story this year at your local event nottinghamcity.gov.uk/apprentice /NottmApprentice @NottmApprentice
visit
28 | THE VOICE MARCH 6 - 12, 2014
Virgin Media recruits next generation of talent
Virgin Media CEO Tom Mockridge and Paul Buttery congratulate the apprentices
t 116 engineering and management apprentices graduate into full-time jobs t 785 people benefitted from nationally-recognised programme since launch t First trainees from Government pilot scheme move onto apprenticeships
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irgin Media will employ 116 young people from its apprenticeship programme this week – with more apprentice and trainee opportunities to be made available this summer – to help meet the demand for superfast broadband and advanced digital entertainment services. The company’s new chief executive officer, Tom Mockridge, personally congratulated the latest graduates at Virgin Media’s annual graduation ceremony in Coventry, urging them to aim high as they help deliver award-winning services to a growing number of customers across the country. The paid courses, which vary between one and two
years in length, give recruits a wide range of digital and business skills with a focus on delivering a fantastic customer experience. Successful graduates also receive nationally recognised qualifications. Tom Mockridge, chief executive officer of Virgin Media, said: “We are investing in the future of our business as well as the communities we serve by offering young people a great start to their careers with us. They are becoming experts and champions of the fastest broadband and the most advanced TV so have a vital role in serving our customers throughout the country.” Chris Starling, head of apprenticeships for Virgin Media, said: “Our apprenticeship programme has gone from strength to strength with huge
demand for opportunities in recent years. Virgin Media’s courses offer a superb insight into our business and are an excellent gateway to stimulating and prosperous careers.” Virgin Media has helped 785 current and graduate apprentices since launching its apprentice programme in 2008 and has been recognised as a top employer by the Government’s National Apprenticeship Service. Virgin Media was also one of the first companies to support the Government’s traineeship initiative, with the first trainees now moving onto full apprenticeship courses. Announcing a further £20m of funding for the traineeship scheme in October, Skills Minister Matthew Hancock said: “The programme is off to
an excellent start with strong backing from employers and training providers. “We have responded to this demand by providing additional investment and in time traineeships will become the clear route for young people looking to get the crucial grounding they need in the world of work.” Amongst those Virgin Media apprentices graduating this year was Jekabs Dravnieks, an engineer based in Wellingborough who was named Intermediate Apprentice of the Year 2013 by the Institute of Telecommunications Professionals. Details of Virgin Media’s search for a new intake of apprentices will be announced during National Apprenticeship Week.
Further details can be found at: careers.virginmedia.com/apprenticeship
FACT PACK:
VIRGIN MEDIA APPRENTICESHIPS BY NUMBERS 116 apprentices graduating in 2014 785 apprentices have benefitted from the scheme since 2008 50 apprentices graduated in first year of the scheme in 2008 3 levels of apprenticeships: Intermediate, Advanced and Higher 4 types - Installation and Service, Network Engineer, Network Planning, Management £12,500 starting salary for Intermediate Apprentices £17,000 starting salary for Advanced and Higher apprentices
MARCH 6 - 12, 2014 THE VOICE | 29
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his September, Dv8 will be presenting Dv8 Academy to 1619 year olds wanting to get into the creative industries. The academy aims to be London’s leading provider for creative courses offering apprenticeships and vocational training at levels 2 and 3. Students will also study core subjects such as English and Maths. Building and utilising, the relationships made by its predecessor Dv8 Training, with the likes of Universal Music and MTV, Dv8 Academy will be fully equipped to provide students with unique learning experiences and opportunities, adding to the many success stories that Dv8 already has. JOURNEY 20-year-old Kadeem Henry, for example, took his first step into the world of media through an apprenticeship. “I didn’t achieve the grades that I for university to study media so I decided to look into other ways to get into the field. I came across Dv8, decided to enrol, a decision which marked the beginning of my journey in media.” Kadeem made such a positive impression during his apprenticeship that he was given a recommendation by Robin Elias Managing Di-
rector at ITV News, helping secure attendance at Ravensbourne University. Robin recalls “Kadeem joined with a passion for video but with little experience of the industry and we saw him develop an appetite for learning more. I’m confident he has taken the first steps to a successful career in television news.”
DV8 OPENS DOORS
National Apprenticeship Week 2014
ENVIRONMENT “There is a good pool of job seekers from under-represented groups,” Robin continues “Organisations like Dv8 help us connect with them. Once we have opened the door, we can benefit from the perspectives young people bring to any working environment.” Dv8 Academy will open its doors to students in September. Those, of age, can register their interest now at: www.Dv8academy.com
The future is coming faster than we think Comment by Education Minister Michael Gove
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f young people are to be prepared for that radically changing world of work, we need a plan to change our education system - and to secure their future. In particular, we need to end the artificial and damaging division between the academic and the practical - the apartheid at the heart of our education system. And we need to ensure that practical, technical and vocational education is integrated with academic learning to make both more compelling for all students in our schools, and more valuable in the new labour market. It’s important to stress, of course, that education is about more, much more, than preparation for employment. It’s an initiation of every new generation into the best that’s been thought and written. It’s an exploration of all the riches of human creativity. And a preparation for the moral responsibilities of adult life. But education is also - critically - the means by which we can give each individual the
chance to shape their own future; their future employment as well as their cultural, social and moral lives. The right education - the acquisition of the right skills - can enable any individual to take control of their economic destiny rather than being left at the mercy of economic forces beyond their control. And getting every child’s education right is central to our long-term economic plan for the country. Because of the economic forces which are reshaping our world now, getting education right has never mattered more. Globalisation - the opening up of markets which followed the collapse of communism has meant that those with the
right skills have a wider choice of jobs and career paths, and goods and services, than ever before. But it has also meant that those with the wrong skills or no skills - have found their opportunities narrowing, as employment opportunities migrate to nations with lower labour costs, or technology renders more and more traditional jobs redundant. That is why I hope we will see every business as enthusiastic about playing its part in providing high-quality education and training as employers. I’d like to see every business include details of its apprenticeship scheme. I hope they’ll take the trouble to report apprenticeship growth.
http://tmpvirgin.avature.net/apprenticeships
30 | THE VOICE MARCH 6 - 12, 2014
There’s never been a better time to be an apprentice
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pprenticeships are thriving in England, with significant Government investment making it the ideal time to become an apprentice. Apprenticeships deliver work for young people and adults, giving apprentices the chance to earn while they learn in a real job, gaining a real qualification and a real future. Currently, more than 100,000 employers in England offer apprenticeships in 200,000 locations, covering over 170 industries and 1,500 different job roles. At any one time, there are up to 20,000 apprenticeships available on apprenticeships.org.uk, the official apprenticeship vacancy matching site managed by the National Apprenticeship Service. Apprenticeships are becoming ever more popular and in the academic year 201213 more than half a million apprentices began their training, and there were over 1.4 million online applications. Moreover, apprentices’ opportunities for career progression are increasing with the expansion of Higher Apprenticeships. Equivalent to degrees, more of these specialised and highly skilled apprenticeships are being offered each year, giving individuals the chance to continue their professional development and fully realise their potential. Apprentices also have the opportunity to achieve recognition through a number of recent initiatives introduced by the National Apprenticeship Service to celebrate the vast and diverse pool of talent developed by apprenticeships. These include awards ceremonies, annual skills competitions and a national search for the apprentice team of the year.
Apprenticeships are thriving in England, with significant Government investment making it the ideal time to become an apprentice. Karen Woodward, Director of Apprenticeships at the National Apprenticeship Service, says: “Apprenticeships lead to life changing career opportunities with real progression and are available to people of all ages. Apprentices gain nationally recognised qualifications and enjoy greater earnings potential over the course of their career. Higher Apprenticeships in particular enable employers, colleges and universities to deliver the advanced skills most critical for growth. That is why we Continued to page 31
More UK firms set to hire apprentices by 2019 We can help apprentices and businesses find each other Bringing businesses and apprentices together in: t "DDPVOUJOH t #VTJOFTT t 4VQQPSU 5FBDIJOH -FBSOJOH t 4PDJBM %JHJUBM .FEJB
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lmost half of businesses in the UK plan to take on apprentices in the next five years, according to new research by ICM Research released recently to mark the start of National Apprenticeship Week. This compares to just over 36 percent employers when asked the same question this time last year. The study of 600 businesses also reveals that 20 percent of small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) plan to take on one or more apprentices in the next 12 months alone, with more than a third of larger businesses planning to do the same, compared to 15 per cent and 28 per cent respectively in February 2013. Around a third of those that plan to take on apprentices say this is because they are a core
part of their growth strategy. Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, Vince Cable, said: “As we kick off National Apprenticeship Week it’s good to see that employers are increasingly recognising the value apprentices can bring to their businesses. Apprentices are now a key and valued part of the workforce for most businesses large or small – and the huge increase, which this Government has overseen is one of my proudest achievements. “Given the grants available to help small businesses take on apprentices, it’s especially good that so many SMEs are embracing apprenticeships in the coming years and that apprentice recruitment now forms a key part of a businesses’ plans for sustainable growth.”
MARCH 6 - 12, 2014 THE VOICE | 31
Continued from page 30
are committed to making apprenticeships the first choice for more ambitious young people.� What type of Apprenticeship are there? Apprenticeships cover over 170 industries and 1,500 job roles, in a range of sectors from marketing to accountancy, engineering to veterinary nursing, community arts to construction. There are three levels: s )NTERMEDIATE n EQUIVALENT TO 5 A*-C GCSEs; s !DVANCED n EQUIVALENT TO ! ,EVELS s (IGHER n ! (IGHER !PPRENTICESHIP INcorporates qualifications at Levels 4 and 5 (for example a Foundation Degree) and can extend to Levels 6 (BA/BSc) and 7 (MA/MSc). Higher Apprenticeships enable apprentices to develop the knowledge and competence required to perform effectively in a specific management or professional role. Apprenticeships have a minimum duration of 12 months, and can take up to four years to complete depending on the level of apprenticeship, the apprentice’s ability and the industry sector. They are open to anyone over 16 who is living in England and not taking part in full-time education. What does an Apprenticeship involve? Apprentices earn while they learn: all apprentices must receive the appropriate national minimum wage (£2.68 for under 19 and first year apprentices, £5.03 for 19 and 20 year olds and £6.31 for those aged 21 and over), but many earn significantly
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more. An apprenticeship is a real job: apprentices work for at least 30 hours a week in their chosen profession. Currently, over 100,000 employers offer apprenticeships in more than 200,000 locations. Apprentices gain real qualifications: apprenticeships last for a minimum of 12 months, and lead to a nationally recognised qualification approved by Ofqual and official employers’ representatives and respected by employers around the world. An apprenticeship secures a real future: after finishing, 86 percent of apprentices stay in employment and two thirds remain with the same employer. Research from the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills showed that a third of former apprentices had received a promotion within a year of finishing their apprenticeship, and of those in work, three quarters reported taking on more responsibility in their jobs. Employers view qualified apprentices as 15 percent more employable than those with other qualifications, and long-term research shows that the lifetime benefit of undertaking an Intermediate Apprenticeship is extra earnings of between £48,000 and £74,000, and an Advanced Apprenticeship between £77,000 and £117,000. This figure rises to £150,000 plus for a Higher Apprenticeship, comparable to university graduates, according to a recent report by the Centre for Economics and Business Research.
Yaser Rauf – MTL Group Engineering Manufacture Apprentice Engineer Yaser Rauf knew little about Apprenticeships until he realised it would be the best option for him.
Name: Yaser Rauf Location: Rotherham Framework: Engineering Manufacture
Yaser Rauf, who started his Advanced Apprenticeship when he was 23, works in the “made to order� department at MTL Group, Europe’s fastest growing project manufacturing specialists in the To find metal sector. Yaser’s work involves manufacturing components for aerospace, defence,
wanted to get a hands on approach to the practical part of engineering, but I also wanted to get a degree,� says Yaser, who left school with six GCSEs all at grade A-C.
Solid foundation “I am building a solid foundation from my Apprenticeship to continue developing skills in engineering,� says Yaser.
“I looked into what Apprenticeships offered and felt it was the best way to get into the career I wanted. My Apprenticeship started with an intensive three month course at Brinsworth Academy of Engineering and at the end of this course I knew I had made the right choice.�
“I make the absolute most of every opportunity I have been given. I am very passionate and committed to not only be successful as an individual but also help take MTL Group to the next level.�
Yaser believes that his Apprenticeship has changed him. “I have become ambitious, focused and driven, with a high level of self motivation to exceed expectations,� he says.
Yaser believes that one of the principal ways in which he has benefited from his Apprenticeship is through learning the skills from his mentors. “These skills become invaluable. The practical and technical skills give me an advantage in developing my career in engineering.�
“My communication skills have improved as now I can go into a meeting and get my point across “Apprenticeships are a fantastic way out more visit http://tmpvirgin.avature.net/apprenticeships much more effectively. My self-belief forward,� says Yaser. “It is a very has increased and now I am much satisfying feeling finishing on a high more confident in myself in moving up every day.� the career ladder.�
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1 2 32 | THE VOICE MARCH 6 - 12, 2014
Yaser Rauf – MTL Group Yaser Rauf – MTL Group Engineering Manufacture
Engineering Manufacture
Apprentice Engineer Yaser Rauf knew little about Apprenticeships until he realised it Apprentice knew little wouldEngineer be the bestYaser optionRauf for him.
about Apprenticeships until he realised it wanted to get a hands on approach to would be the best option forthehim. practical part of engineering, but I also wanted to get a degree,” says Yaser, who left school with six wanted to get on approach to GCSEs allaathands grade A-C.
the practical part of engineering, but I “I lookedto into what Apprenticeships also wanted get a degree,” says offered felt it was the six best way to Yaser, who and left school with get all intoatthe career I wanted. My GCSEs grade A-C.
Name: Yaser Rauf
Apprenticeship started with an intensive three month course at “I looked into what Apprenticeships Brinsworth Academy of Engineering offered and felt it was the best Iway and at the end of this course knewtoI get into career I wanted. hadthe made the right choice.”My
Apprenticeship started with an Yaserthree believes that course his intensive month at Apprenticeship has changed him. “I Brinsworth Academy of Engineering Framework: Engineering Manufacture have become ambitious, focused and and atdriven, the end this level course I knew I withof a high of self had made the right choice.” Name: Yaser Rauf motivation to exceed expectations,” Location: Rotherham
Yaser Rauf, who started his Advanced he says. Apprenticeship when he was 23, works Location: Rotherham Yaser believes that his in the “made to order” department at Apprenticeship “My communication skills have has changed him. “I MTL Group, Europe’s fastest growing improved as now I can go into a and Framework: Engineering Manufacture have become ambitious, focused project manufacturing specialists in the meeting and get my point across driven, with a high level of self metal sector. much more effectively. My self-belief motivation to exceed has increased and expectations,” now I am much Yaser Rauf,Yaser’s who started his Advanced work involves manufacturinghe says. more confident in myself in moving up Apprenticeship when he 23, works components for was aerospace, defence, the career ladder.” motorsports nuclear applications. in the “made to order” and department at “My communication skills have His Apprenticeship MTL Group, Europe’s fastest growing improved as now I canhas go also intohelped a Moving up the career ladder Yaser gain many new qualifications project manufacturing specialists in the meeting and get my point across “I had always been fascinated how including an EAL Level 3 NVQ metal sector. more effectively. MyManufacturing self-belief mechanical engineering works and muchDiploma in Mechanical has increased and I aminmuch Engineering andnow a BTEC Yaser’s work involves manufacturing more Manufacturing confident in myself in moving up Engineering.
components for aerospace, defence, motorsports and nuclear applications. Moving up the career ladder “I had always been fascinated how mechanical engineering works and
the career ladder.”
His Apprenticeship has also helped Yaser gain many new qualifications including an EAL Level 3 NVQ Diploma in Mechanical Manufacturing Engineering and a BTEC in Manufacturing Engineering.
Solid foundation “I am building a solid foundation from my Apprenticeship to continue developing skills in engineering,” says Solid foundation Yaser.
“I am building a solid foundation from “I make the absolute most of every my Apprenticeship to continue opportunity I have been given. I am says developing skills in engineering,” very passionate and committed to not Yaser. only be successful as an individual but also help take MTL Group to the “I make the absolute most of every next level.”
opportunity I have been given. I am very to not Yaserpassionate believes thatand onecommitted of the principal in whichas hean hasindividual only be ways successful benefited from his Apprenticeship but also help take MTL Groupisto the through learning the skills from his next level.” mentors.
Yaserskills believes thatinvaluable. one of the “These become The principaland ways in which has practical technical skillshe give me an advantage in developing my benefited from his Apprenticeship is career in engineering.” through learning the skills from his mentors.
“Apprenticeships are a fantastic way forward,” says Yaser. “It is a very “These skills become satisfying feeling finishinginvaluable. on a high The practical every day.”and technical skills give me
an advantage in developing my Yaser named Advanced careerwas in engineering.”
Apprentice of the Year in the Yorkshire and Humber region at the “Apprenticeships are a fantastic way National Apprenticeship Awards forward,” says Yaser. “It is a very 2012.
satisfying feeling finishing on a high every day.”
Yaser was named Advanced Apprentice of the Year in the Yorkshire and Humber region at the National Apprenticeship Awards 2012.
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MARCH 6 - 12, 2014 THE VOICE | 33
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Nana Bonsu – Anthony Vrahimis Yaser Raufand – MTL Group Fashion Textiles
Engineering Manufacture
An Apprenticeship with a leather design company provided Nana Bonsu with the skills Apprentice Engineer Rauf knew little and experience for Yaser her future in the industry.
about Apprenticeships until he realised it Apprenticeship, Nana is receiving would be the best option for him. training from the City of Westminster
Another advantage of the Apprenticeship for Nana has been her colleagues in the workplace.
College while being employed by Anthony Vrahimis, a company wanted to get hands on approach foundation designing andamanufacturing bespoke to“TheSolid best aspect of the products. is working in foundation a team theleather practical part of engineering, but I Apprenticeship “I am building a solid from with varying levels of experience, also wanted to get a degree,” says my Apprenticeship to continue I get theskills opportunity to learn She completed her Apprenticeship Yaser, who left school with six in because developing in engineering,” says from everyone,” she explains. February 2013, achieving an NVQ GCSEs all at grade A-C. Yaser. Level 3 in Leathergoods Production Creative future and a BTEC in Fashion and Clothing, “I looked into what Apprenticeships “I make the absolute most of every Being an apprentice has enabled working as a full-time production Name: Nana Bonsu offered andatfelt it wasVrahimis. the best way to Nana to develop her creative talent, assistant Anthony opportunity I have been given. I am andvery she has ambitiousand planscommitted for her get into the career I wanted. My passionate to not Location: London “My job includes cutting, splitting, future in the fashion industry. Apprenticeship started with an only be successful as an individual buffing and dyeing leather,” explains intensive three month course at Framework: Fashion and Textiles but also help take MTL Group to the Nana. “I also duplicate patterns and “I want to own my own business,” she Brinsworth Academy of Engineering says. next level.” do hand stitching and machining.” “I love to design and make and at the end of this course I knew I garments so I’m aiming to complete Pursuing a dream had made the right choice.” Yaser believes that one of the Hands-on experience two collections for 2013.” Name: Yaser Rauf Nana Bonsu, from London, was Nana feels that her Apprenticeship is principal ways in which he has studying for a degree when she decided helping her become a part of the Anthony Vrahimis, founder of the Location: Rotherham Yaser believes that his benefited from his Apprenticeship is to take a new direction and pursue her London-based studio said, “Bringing industry she has always admired. Apprenticeship has changed him. “I through learning the skills from his vocation. “I decided to leave university young people into the textile and Framework: Engineering Manufacture so that I could concentrate on my real have become ambitious, focused and mentors. fashion industry is helping to secure “I’ve always wanted to learn about passion, which is fashion and beauty,” driven, with a high level of self the future for the English industry. fashion,” she explains. “The glitz and she explains. “I chose to do an motivation to exceed expectations,” “These skills invaluable. The Young people bringbecome fresh ideas to the glamour is great, but I really wanted Apprenticeship because I can learn and he says. Yaser Rauf, who started his Advanced practical technical while and helping to keep skills give me to gain an insight into exactly how the industry gain skillswhen muchhe more quickly in a Apprenticeship was 23, works traditional techniques products are made.” an advantage inalive.” developing my working environment.”
in the “made to order” department at MTL Group, fastest growing Nana Europe’s began an Intermediate project manufacturing the Apprenticeship inspecialists Fashion andinTextiles in February 2012 aged 22. During her metal sector. Yaser’s work involves manufacturing components for aerospace, defence, motorsports and nuclear applications. Moving up the career ladder “I had always been fascinated how mechanical engineering works and
“My communication skills have career in engineering.” Nana’s Apprenticeship has helped her “I’ve always been an advocate for improved as now I can go into a to achieve this. “I’m learning so much, Apprenticeships - it's a great way to meeting and get my point across areas a well fantastic way and simultaneously working to excel gain“Apprenticeships experience on-the-job as much more effectively. My self-belief forward,” says Yaser. “It is a very a qualification.” in my craft: garment construction,” has increased and now I am much satisfying feeling finishing on a high she says. out day.” more about more confident in myself in moving upTo find every have gained confidence from Apprenticeship opportunities, please the“I career ladder.” watching my hard work become part contact the was National Apprenticeship Yaser named Advanced of the industry I want to get into. It’s a Service on 08000 150 600 or visit the His Apprenticeship has also helped Apprentice of the Year in the liberating feeling.” website www.apprenticeships.org.uk Yaser gain many new qualifications Yorkshire and Humber region at the including an EAL Level 3 NVQ National Apprenticeship Awards Diploma in Mechanical Manufacturing 2012. Engineering and a BTEC in Manufacturing Engineering.
34 | THE VOICE MARCH 6 - 12, 2014
NATIONAL APPRENTICESHIP WEEK
“Apprenticeships are about ensuring no young person gets left behind.” W
By Sam Gyimah MP
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or too long apprenticeships have been undervalued. They have been neglected by policymakers as nothing more than an outdated process of recruitment for traditional, blue-collar industries. The reality is far different: they are one of the best routes open to young people who want to aspire and create a better life for themselves and their families. This is because apprenticeships’ ‘earn while you learn’ model - continued study towards a qualification combined with real, paid experience – is a highly effective route towards gaining a first permanent job. Today, there are opportunities in an enormous variety of professions - from agriculture to accountancy, education to engineering, and even politics. SKILLS I have recently taken on my first apprentice in my parliamentary office, joining more than half a million apprentices created in each of the past two years under this Government, of whom nearly 50,000
are black. This is almost double the number of apprenticeships being created five years ago under Labour, and means far more people learning new skills while taking home a pay packet. TRAINING From a policy perspective, apprenticeships make sense for two further reasons. First, they provide an affordable way for businesses to take on new staff, expand their operations, and ultimately grow our economy. With generous support from the Government – including a £1,500 subsidy and help with the cost of training for every apprentice they take on – there has never been a better time for businesses to invest in Britain’s young people. Second, apprenticeships are about ensuring no young person gets left behind, as part of the fightback against one of the biggest challenges we face as a country: youth unemployment. In chasing an arbitrary target of getting 50 percent of school leavers into university, the last Labour Government did far too little to create opportunities for other young people. They lost sight of the fact that there are many young people for
Sam Gyimah is the Conservative Member of Parliament for East Surrey
whom university will not be the answer, and just as many careers for which further education and on the job training are more valuable combined. A generation of young people have been let down by a lack of opportunity, which is why youth unemployment has been rising since 2004 – a decade ago and well before the financial crisis hit. Whilst the most recent statistics show we are moving in the right direction, there is still a very long way to go to get youth unemployment back down again. CAREERS That is why National Apprenticeship Week is such an important time of year, as a means of raising awareness of the range of career paths open to young people who want to work hard and succeed. If you are at school or at college and think an apprenticeship might be right for you - talk to a teacher. If you are a parent and want your children to aim high - talk to them about apprenticeships. You can find out more - and see thousands of vacancies you can apply for right now on: www.apprenticeships.org.uk
To find out more visit http://tmpvirgin.avature.net/apprenticeships