Big yellow bus hits the Midlands highways for National Apprenticeship Week

A big yellow bus will be visiting five counties across the Midlands to help young people find a suitable apprenticeship as part of National Apprenticeship Week.

Students from schools in the West Midlands, Warwickshire, Leicestershire, Worcestershire and Northamptonshire will be visited by the apprenticeships team from leading college group WCG (formerly Warwickshire College Group) in an American-style yellow school bus.

It will be visiting three schools a day during National Apprenticeship Week, which runs from February 7 to 11.

The bus will feature activities for pupils at the schools and colleges it is visiting to interact with apprenticeships being showcased ranging from construction and engineering, to arboriculture and motor vehicles.

Students will get the chance to create their own catapult from lollypop sticks and spoons under the watchful eye of engineering tutors from the college.

There will also be a collection of engines from motor vehicles for prospective apprentices to inspect and power tools on show for construction use.

Staff will also be putting on an arboriculture taster session, using chainsaws with chains removed.

Presentations will be given at each school to highlight the range of apprenticeship options available for school leavers.

Mark Whittaker, from WCG, said: “For the last two years we haven’t been able to get out to schools during National Apprenticeship Week, and it’s important that young people are aware of the opportunities available to them through apprenticeships.

“We hope the WCG yellow bus will turn some heads as it arrives at schools across the Midlands and encourage pupils to say hello and find out more about prospective career paths for when they leave school.

“It’s going to be really interactive and engaging, with the idea of helping young people to sample a range of different professions and industries.

“The last year has seen Government place a major emphasis on skills and in particular how post-16 education can help to ease pressures on the labour market. Apprenticeships are a vital component in doing that and we hope our apprenticeships roadshow will open more eyes to the benefits of taking the apprenticeship route.”

The yellow bus will hit the road to visit Leamington and Coventry on Monday, then head on to Rugby and Daventry on Tuesday. Wednesday will see schools visited in Worcestershire, including in Worcester and Pershore.

By Thursday, the WCG apprenticeships roadshow will be travelling through Leicestershire with stops in Lutterworth and Broughton Astley.

The journey will come to a close on Friday in Worcestershire with visits to Worcester and Stourport.