10 South East companies with leading apprenticeship programmes
Ahead of National Apprenticeship Week (NAW) in February, which is in its 16th year, we look at the companies in the South East that have successfully deployed and grown their own apprenticeship programmes and serve as a shining example to other companies looking to grow the next generation of their employees.
NAW takes place from February 6 to February 12 and brings together businesses and apprentices across the country to shine a light on the positive impact that apprenticeships make to individuals, businesses and the wider economy.
Apprentices who completed their training by the end of 2022 were estimated to have added almost £700 million a year to the economy by the end of the decade and are projected to add £7 billion to the total by then. For a cost of £2 billion, this represents a 300 per cent return on investment.
The public sector offered the most apprenticeships in 2022. The British Army claimed first place, with 6,205 new start apprentices – representing just under 20 per cent of employee numbers, followed by the Royal Navy, BT and Royal Air Force.
However, BAE Systems, headquartered in Farnborough, was in ninth place. The company welcomed 773 apprentices last year, just under eight per cent of total employee numbers. Currently, BAE S is training more than 3,000 apprentices – more than at any other time in the Company’s history.
1 - Virgin Atlantic, Crawley
Virgin Atlantic, the British airline with headquarters at Crawley and hubs at Heathrow and Manchester, has a fleet of 37 planes flying to 32 destinations around the world.
The firm is always on the lookout for young people who want to boost their career in the aviation industry.
The airline offers two-year apprenticeship schemes. Phase one incorporates academic and hand skills training to City & Guilds Level 3. The new recruits then follow a development phase which includes time spent at Resource Group’s training facility in the Cotswolds.
The final 14 months of the apprenticeship is spent gaining vital hands-on experience, working with the airline’s world leading engineers across its Heathrow line and hangar maintenance facilities.
The programme culminates in an engineering technician apprenticeship certificate along with the opportunity to apply for a permanent role with the airline.
2 - BAE Systems, Portsmouth
BAE Systems is a British multinational arms, security, and aerospace company and the largest defence contractor in Europe.
The company is a strong supporter of the UK's young workforce, investing almost £100 million in education, skills, and early careers activities.
The group currently has 3,300 apprentices and graduates in training across its UK businesses, equivalent to more than nine per cent of its 35,300 strong UK workforce.
BAE Systems offers four levels of apprenticeships in a range of disciplines including engineering, technical and business.
There are four levels of apprenticeship: the entry level requires five GCSEs while higher apprenticeships require A levels and degree Apprenticeships are for 18+ applicants who want to gain a degree while starting their career journey.
George, a degree apprentice in project management at Portsmouth Naval Base, joined the group three years ago after hearing a talk at his college.
"The opportunity to work alongside the Royal Navy was really exciting to me. It seemed like the ideal way of getting a qualification in a great job for a business that does a lot of good in the world," he said.
"I’m excited by my future here, there’s always some amazing opportunities available, and once I’ve completed my apprenticeship, I’m looking forward to seeing where the skills I’m building take me next within the business.
"I’d love to work abroad, and once I complete my apprenticeship, I’ll be able to apply for those kind of opportunities, which is really exciting."
3 - Airbus, Farnborough, Portsmouth, Guildford
Multinational aerospace corporation Airbus designs, manufactures and sells civil and military aerospace products worldwide and manufactures aircraft.
The UK is one of the company’s four home markets, alongside France, Germany and Spain. Its 11,000-strong UK workforce is part of a global family of 125,000 employees.
Its base at Farnborough is home to Zephyr, the world-leading solar electric stratospheric drone. Its Guilford base is a world leader in small satellite development and manufacture. And its major space hub and centre for satellite payloads is based at Portsmouth, where its assembly plant is the biggest clean room in the UK.
Airbus offers apprenticeships and graduate apprenticeships in a number of disciplines, including engineering and electronics, technical and craft, business and supply chain, digital technology, and engineering.
4 - Xtrac, Berkshire
Engineering company Xtrac is at the forefront of the automotive technology industry, and a world leader in motorsport and high performance automotive transmissions solutions. Its bespoke 88,000 sq ft high-tech factory was opened at Thatcham, Berkshire in 2000.
The firm has supported apprentices since 1991, and in March it opened its dedicated Xtrac Academy, which serves as a dedicated space for practical and classroom-based learning.
The apprentices experience working in up to 16 departments across the company over the course of their 18-to-48-month education.
Apprentice manager Warren Page explained: "The benefit to both Xtrac and the new apprentices at Xtrac Academy is the breadth of learning and practical experience they will accrue during their time here.”
“Engineering increasingly demands a flexible, multi-skilled workforce, and that is what the Xtrac Academy is designed to support.”
Having been a recipient of the Princess Royal Training Award in 2018 and 2021, Her Royal Highness visited the new Academy shortly after it opened to meet apprentices and their mentors.
5 - Wightlink, Portsmouth
Wightlink is a ferry company operating routes across The Solent between Hampshire and the Isle of Wight in the south of England.
It operates car ferries between Lymington and Yarmouth, and Portsmouth and Fishbourne and a fast passenger-only catamaran between Portsmouth Harbour and Ryde Pier.
It gives young people on the island a head start in their careers with apprenticeships through its partnership with Isle of Wight College.
The firm offers apprenticeships in a number of disciplines, including operations, commercial, marketing, finance, engineering, and estates.
The apprenticeship scheme offers the youngsters the chance to earn while they learn – and gives them a good first step into their chosen career, whether they decide to stay with Wightlink or move on after they qualify with the transferable skills they have earned.
Chief executive Keith Greenfield says: "Our young people have brought new perspectives to the company and are already valued members of the team. We would encourage other companies to find out how apprentices can contribute to their businesses.”
6 - Shepherd Neame, Kent
Shepherd Neame is renowned as Britain's oldest brewer. The Faversham, Kent-based brewer can trace its history back to 1698.
Having launched its first apprenticeship scheme in 2019 its launched a second one in April 2022 for aspiring managers across its business.
The brewer has proved the apprenticeships are not just popular by industry entrants, but by workers who already have a career with the firm and want to progress further with qualifications under their belt.
Apprentice James Carpenter 34, who has been working for the company seven and a half years, said: “I want to gain as much knowledge as I can in the industry, as eventually I want to run my own pub.
“I love working there. I want knowledge to improve the job that I do and hopefully to push myself further within the industry.“
The seven new have been spending a year working towards Level 3 Hospitality Supervisor, with their studies consisting of 70 per cent practical on the job training, 20 per cent mentoring and coaching and 10 per cent workshop training and online support.
The brewer also has 13 apprentices studying for level 4 hospitality manager qualifications, bringing the total the company is currently training to 20.
Lisa Williams, Shepherd Neame field trainer, said: "It is great to welcome this second wave of our staff on to our apprenticeship programme – they have an exciting time ahead of them.”
“We have worked hard to enhance the programme experience for our apprentices and believe we have refined and improved the process even more.”
7 - Natures Way Foods, Sussex
Ever been asked to do something strange during a job interview? Candidates for an engineering apprenticeship at leading fresh convenient food manufacturer Nature's Way Foods were asked to build a catapult that would launch a head of lettuce.
Robbie Twyford and Charles Pearce "demonstrated excellent creativity and problem-solving skills, as well as a desire to learn and work as a team" and these skills won them spots on the engineering apprentice programme, which they have now completed with an NVQ, level 3 each in engineering maintenance.
"Developing the next generation of engineers is critical to sustaining Natures Way Foods growth ambitions. I am extremely proud of the hard work and dedication of the apprentices and department in ensuring the scheme has, and will continue to be an over whelming success," said head of engineering Richard Sellis.
Natures Way Foods supplies prepared salads, prepared fruit, coleslaw, potato salad, food to go and dressed salads to some of the UK’s largest supermarkets and foodservice companies.
It sees the development of new customer-led technologies and innovations are key to unlocking business growth.
Over the past three years the company has trained over 25 apprentices in engineering, technical, and management.
In August Chichester MP and now Secretary of State for Education Gillian Keegan visited Natures Way Foods to meet apprentices and see its coleslaw production line.
8 - Scotia Gas Networks, Surrey
Scotia Gas Networks manages the network that distributes natural and green gas to 5.9 million homes and businesses across Scotland and the south of England.
The company offers apprenticeships in a range of disciplines. Its sales apprentices and business and technical apprentices schemes both offer training to level 3.
And it's fair to say the firm takes the career progression of its apprentices very seriously – and a number of employees who started their careers as apprentices around a decade ago now occupy management positions within the firm.
Roger Crane started his career as a gas distribution apprentice in 1980. Forty-two years later he's still on the job in Horley – although now he boasts the job title gas control manager.
In May, Roger was named Engineer of the Year at the Institution of Gas Engineers & Managers' prestigious Gas Industry Awards.
9 - Softcat, Buckinghamshire
IT solutions provider Softcat has an enviable reputation when it comes to attracting and retaining staff to it predominantly young workforce, frequently appearing on 'best places to work' lists.
So it's no surprise that the company offers a range of apprenticeships in disciplines ranging from sales to technology and business operations.
The Softcat apprenticeship programme mixes classroom work with a variety of exciting challenges in the workplace, under the guidance of experienced colleagues, mentors and our employee support networks.
For business administration apprentices, their tenure can lead to a Level 3 City & Guilds Award, while for technical salespeople a Level 3 IT award is backed by BCS, The Chartered Institute of IT.
The company, which supplies businesses with software from well-known names including Amazon, Cisco, Google, Microsoft, and Zoom was named Sustainable IT Solutions Provider of the Year 2022 and topped Glassdoor's ranking for Work-Life balance in 2022.
10 - Pinewood Studios, Buckinghamshire
Home of the James Bond and Carry On film franchises, Pinewood Studios is a British film and television studio located in Iver, Buckinghamshire.
Synonymous with some of the big and small screen’s most enduring productions over its 85-year history Pinewood’s iconic studios offer a number of apprenticeships for young people looking for a break behind the scenes in film or television.
Pinewood Group offers a range of apprenticeships in its facility services, cinema and technology departments, fulfilling roles as electricians, plumbers, infrastructure technicians, and cinema managers.
Apprentices can gain invaluable experience working alongside Pinewood's highly skilled teams whilst receiving formal training and earning a qualification.
When they're ready to move on, apprentices continue their development with Pinewood, which helps to provide future support for a successful career in the creative industries.
