We offer apprenticeships, higher technical qualifications Higher National Certificates and Diplomas that can be studied part time and flexibly, within the evening or during the day.
For more than 70 years we have been working with companies like yours to develop the nation’s construction and civil engineering specialists, helping to close the skills gap within your industry.
You will have ready access to a talent pool of students who have studied full-time with us and are keen to take up an apprenticeship to progress within their chosen field.
As the largest college provider of apprenticeships in Greater Manchester we work with more than 1,500 employers and 2,000 apprentices. We support our apprentices and their employers throughout the journey from Level 3 through to higher Level 4.
CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE
We have made significant capital investment to provide robotic total stations, laser scanning and levelling as well as Global Navigation Satellite systems surveying. This allows for full digital surveys and setting out with the use of X Pad software and production of Revit models. The digital models can then be viewed in our state of the art CAVE facility.
APPRENTICESHIPS AT WIGAN & LEIGH COLLEGE
Apprenticeships work well for businesses and apprentices - they develop talent and drive organisations forward. Apprenticeships are recognised as a fantastic route to develop careers.
Apprentices are employed, they earn a salary and gain a recognised qualification. Our programmes range from level 2 to 6, including higher and degree apprenticeships. They may last 12 to 48 months, depending on the apprentice and the sector.
The government has placed apprenticeships at the heart of the skills system in the UK, making sure that apprentices develop the required skills, knowledge and behaviours they need to thrive in their chosen career.
WHY SHOULD I EMPLOY AN APPRENTICE?
Apprenticeships are an exciting option for both apprentice and employer. You can employ apprentices at different levels, from school leavers and university graduates, to people who want to further their careers or change career direction completely. You can hire someone new or upskill an existing employee. As an employer, you can get funding from the government to help pay for apprenticeship training.
BENEFITS FOR YOUR BUSINESS
86% of employers said apprenticeships helped them develop skills relevant to their organisation.
78% of employers said apprenticeships helped them improve productivity.
74% of employers said apprenticeships helped them improve the quality of their product or service.
OTHER BENEFITS INCLUDE:
• You can adapt their training according to the needs of your business.
• They’re motivated to learn new skills.
• You can expand and upskill your workforce.
FUNDING OPTIONS AVAILABLE
All employers must now have an online apprenticeship service account whether you pay the apprenticeship levy or not.
Do you pay the apprenticeship levy?
YES You only pay the apprenticeship levy if your annual pay bill is more than £3million
NO Smaller employers who do not pay the apprenticeship levy share the cost of training and assessing their apprentices with the government. This is called ‘coinvestment’.
HIGHER TECHNICAL EDUCATION
In 2020, Wigan & Leigh College redeveloped the Rushton Building to develop a curriculum offer that meets the skills needs of the borough. By working with our established employer partners and building on our existing strong relationships we opened The Centre for Advanced Technical Studies in September 2020.
This centre focuses on providing a wider choice of higher technical education and apprenticeships in skill priority areas and allow students access to new state-of-the-art teaching. Facilities including; lecture theatres, a BIM (Building Information Modelling) laboratory, a CAVE (Cave Automatic Virtual Environment) and other extensive digital facilities to support Industry 4.0 as well as social areas and business services
We offer flexible, bespoke training programmes to meet your business needs with innovative teaching and learning that supports the nation’s and your business’ future economic growth.
By focusing on the needs of the construction industry we work with you to prepare the next generation of creative, ingenious problem solvers, who help to raise standards within your organisation ensuring your reputation, business success and the bottom line. You will benefit from our Assessors and Professional Mentors to guide apprentices through the process from start to end point assessment.
We also enjoy strong links with professional bodies including the ICE (Institute of Civil Engineers) and RICS (Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors).
HIGHER TECHNICAL QUALIFICATION
THE NEW ROUTE TO REWARDING CAREERS
Higher Technical Qualifications (HTQs) are practical, employer-led study programmes which have been developed to ensure specific training, knowledge and skills required for employement are included within the course. HTQs are a high-quality alternative to other experience-focused routes, such as apprenticeships, traineeships and degrees.
What are Higher Technical Qualifications?
HTQs are Level 4 and 5 qualifications (such as HNDs/ Foundation Degrees) that sit between A Levels and T Levels and Degrees. They’ve been approved against occupational standards in their sector, so that you can get a head start in your career or further study.
What subjects are available?
The first digital HTQs started in September 2022. More courses in Construction will be available from September 2023.
Who are HTQs suitable for?
• School leavers (18+) who are looking for an alternative to Degrees or Apprenticeships.
• Anyone looking to upskill whether they are in employment or looking to retrain.
Why should I choose HTQs?
HTQs have been specifically developed with employers and businesses to focus on the skills they are looking for, unlocking high-skilled and highly paid jobs. They are often shorter and cheaper than degrees.
What are the options after studying?
HTQs are designed to get the student ready for work, which means once they’ve completed the HTQ, they’ll be ready to jump straight into their chosen career. There are also clear progression pathways to further higher-level study or a degree or degree apprenticeships for those who wish to complete a degree.
*This course is not a Higher Technical Qualification
“At AmcoGiffen, we’re committed to supporting an agile culture of growth, diversity and aspiration for all our people. Emerging talent is our future, which is why we make significant investments towards recruiting and developing our apprentice engineers and surveyors. Our partnership with Wigan & Leigh College is both robust and seamless. Our learners are well supported throughout their programmes, and our Managers and HR Team are regularly kept up to date with progress reports.”
“Being a Wigan company, we like being able to work with a Wigan Institution to carry out our apprenticeships. These apprentices are our next generation of leaders, so to think that we can have these people, these young individuals in the college community and working in Wigan, it resonates with our company values. The college has a brilliant reputation, it partners with very prestigious institutions and it is great that the students get the opportunity to work with brand leaders.”
“The college are very professional. They are friendly and they really have the interest of our apprentices and our business at heart. Thanks to our relationship we have been able to develop an apprentice scheme for a new discipline. It has been hugely beneficial” Get
For more information about how we can help contact Employer Engagement: employerengagement@wigan-leigh.ac.uk