Apprenticeships flourish at Warwickshire College Group (WCG), despite crisis

Leading college group, WCG is urging businesses to look to apprenticeships as they plan for life after Covid-19…

WCG is the largest provider of apprenticeship training in the region, with over 2,500 apprentices training each year, working with over 1,100 employers across the Midlands and nationally, from large companies to sole traders.

The college group has been using virtual classrooms and remote delivery to bring learning to apprentices’ homes, ensuring they are ready to hit the ground running.

Apprentices, including those furloughed, are being fully supported in their learning with one-to-one sessions, remote assessments and live masterclasses.

Lecturers, trainers and assessors are successfully completing the usual delivery for the majority of apprenticeships that the college group offers during the pandemic.  Apprenticeship reviews have continued to ensure learners are on track with progression, feel fully supported and employers are kept informed of their progress.

WCG are experienced in delivering adaptable, flexible and successful delivery models for a range of apprenticeship programmes to suit all employers, regardless of size.

Mark Eden, Director of Work-Based Learning at WCG, said: “‘It has never been more important to support and continue to engage with apprentices. 

 “They will play a pivotal role in supporting the economy and filling in those crucial skill gaps for when the demand for services and goods increase across all sectors. The UK was already struggling to recruit staff with the right skill sets before the crisis across many sectors.  “Stopping apprenticeship engagement and recruitment would only have a further negative impact on the economy and put us on the back foot.

“We believe that continuing to invest in apprenticeships will provide employers and sectors with that vital competitive edge. “Our quick response to the impact of Covid-19 will benefit employers and apprentices across multiple sectors including business, hair and beauty, dental, construction, engineering, motor vehicle and land-based industries. “WCG are pleased to be continuing discussions with employers regarding new apprenticeship vacancies, while supporting our clients with screening potential candidates for future recruitment, regardless of the challenging economic climate.”

 WCG offers a wide range of apprenticeships in a variety of industries. For more information visit www.wcg.ac.uk/apprenticeships

Seven unique colleges, one heart - All part of WCG

 WCG is a group of colleges that, combined, make up one of the largest further and higher education colleges in the UK. WCG has sites across Warwickshire and Worcestershire, with a central base at Royal Leamington Spa College. Each individual college has its own unique identity which means that together we can deliver a broad range of study programmes to help develop the wider skills bases on which our local economies depend.

 Services For Employers

From corporate or individual training, to support recruiting an apprentice and staying up to date with legislation, there's a range of services that we provide to businesses. To find our more visit WCG Services for Employers here