Future proof your business by hiring an apprentice Customer Service and Retail Skills Understanding apprenticeships
Who are they for?
Training an apprentice is a great way to mould individuals into the perfect employee for your business.
Apprenticeships can be completed by existing staff who want to recognise and develop their skills, or by someone who has joined the organisation in an apprenticeship role.
Apprenticeships are work-based training programmes designed to industry standards and more specifically, around the needs of employers leading to nationally recognised qualifications. There are three levels of apprenticeship: Level 2 - Intermediate Level Apprenticeship (GCSE) Level 3 - Advanced Level Apprenticeship (A Level) Level 4 - Higher Level Apprenticeship (Up to Degree Level) All apprenticeships include on-the-job competence and skills training along with underpinning theoretical knowledge and essential work skills including communication, team work, numeracy and literacy. Depending on the learner’s previous qualifications, they will also continue to study English and maths. Apprentice training is primarily delivered in the workplace and offers minimum disruption to your business. The training programme is designed to your specific requirements and learning is flexible to fit around your organisation.
Middlesbrough College can support your current employees through apprenticeship frameworks developed to improve their existing skills set allowing them to progress in their job role. Our dedicated apprenticeship team regularly recruit and source skilled students onto apprenticeship frameworks as a natural continuation from their studies. We can also help you to recruit new apprentices offering a full recruitment service. An initial screening process is carried out, followed by an assessment, to ensure the candidates we put forward for your vacancy are the most beneficial for your organisation. Apprenticeships are available for anyone over the age of 16; there is no upper age limit. Your apprentice must be given a contract of employment and be employed for a minimum of 30 hours a week, if not more.
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Apprenticehips & Training
Excellent customer service can be applied to hundreds of job roles across many different sectors. A customer service apprentice can work in roles including retail, financial services, call centres, hospitality, or sport and recreation. Our customer service apprenticeships are primarily aimed at individuals whose job role is dedicated to customer service however; many employers also choose these diverse frameworks to compliment an individual’s technical skills such as hairdressing, estate agency work, dentistry, floristry, reception work and administration.
We currently offer apprenticeships in:
Working with Northern Skills Group
Customer Service
We offer fantastic facilities, expert tuition and dedicated support to help you source the right apprentice and the right training programme. Your apprentice will be allocated a personal Training Adviser to support them throughout their training and to help them achieve their qualification. Our Training Advisers have been chosen for their expertise and industry background and provide a responsive service for both employers and learners.
Level: 2 & 3 Start Date: Flexible Duration: 1 year Days and Times: 4 days with your employer and 1 day at Northern Skills Group per week. Business Benefits: This qualification develops a learner’s customer service skillset in a range of areas including communication, impression and imagery delivery, problem solving, team work and presentation. Learners will look at the principles of the business to understand the customer service environment to help improve customer feedback and retention. The higher level programme will also delve deeper into the fundamentals of customer service and the rules that impact on potential improvements for businesses. Learners will be expected to exceed customer expectations and have the ability to close a sale.
Retail Skills Level: 2 & 3 Start Date: Flexible Duration: 1 year Days and Times: 4 days with your employer and 1 day at Northern Skills Group per week. Business Benefits: This qualification develops a learner’s ability to work effectively in a retail team. They will develop their customer service in all areas, providing a positive impression of your organisation. Learners will develop their ability to handle cash, process payments and returns, carry out stock checks, manage customer queries and complaints, and create visual displays to attract customers in a range of retail environments. The higher level programme allows the learner to specialise in visual merchandising, retail management or sales.
Why hire an apprentice? • • • • • •
They can increase your productivity and efficiency You will develop a skilled and qualified workforce Gain a competitive edge Improve your profitability Reduce training and recruitment costs Improve your employee’s motivation
Available Funding Funding may be available to support the cost of your apprentice’s training and their salary. Northern Skills Group can discuss apprenticeship funding with you and support you with eligibility criteria and your application.
Contact Centre Operations Level: 2 & 3 Start Date: Flexible Duration: 1 year Days and Times: 4 days with your employer at 1 day in the with Northern Skills Group. Business Benefits: This qualification develops a learner’s skill set in contact centre operations and covers a range of areas including how to: develop personal effectiveness, operate contact centre systems, obtain and analyse information and handle objections. Learners will develop their ability to ensure organisational effectiveness and create a consistent approach within an organisation. The higher level apprenticeship programme allows a learner to progress to team leader and supervisory roles.
Experts in
Call: 03453 40 40 40
Apprenticehips & Training