100 in 100 challenge marks National Apprenticeship Week for college
Wiltshire College & University Centre has set itself a challenge of recruiting 100 apprentices in 100 days to mark National Apprenticeship Week next week.
The campaign is just part of a week of activities across the college’s four campuses in Chippenham, Lackham, Salisbury and Trowbridge during the week of February 10 to 16.
The college, which works with around 1,000 employers and 2,000 apprentices, is launching the 100 in 100 campaign to help more businesses to discover the benefits of training homegrown staff through an apprenticeship.
Its five Business Relationship Managers will be out visiting companies throughout the 100 days to explain how the college can help them – and deliver specially baked 100 in 100 cupcakes.
“We work with a huge range of employers to provide more than 70 different apprenticeships all over the county and beyond and we enrol around 700 new apprentices every year,” said Director of Business Development, Martin Reeves.
“However it’s my firm belief that we can do more, which is why we’re asking employers to make a pledge to take on an apprentice. It’s great for the apprentices because they earn while they are learning and gaining a nationally recognised qualification alongside experience professionals.
“It’s good for employers too because they can bring on future talent that meets their needs by teaching them how they want them to work.”
The college’s new Chair of Governors Paddy Bradley, the former Chief Executive of the Swindon and Wiltshire Local Economic Partnership, is a passionate advocate of apprenticeships and is backing the campaign.
He believes apprenticeships are still undervalued in the UK despite the growing number of successes. “Only around 5 per cent of young people take up apprenticeships in this country, which is a crying shame,” he said.
“Across Europe, in Germany, for example, they're more widespread and seen as pretty much on a par with degree courses because the industrial training is regarded in the same light.
“Apprenticeships are a good way into a career because you get skilled up and you get paid to get skilled up, it's a brilliant opportunity and I want to see more businesses taking advantage.”
Elsewhere during the week the college will be opening a new £2.2 million Business School at its Lackham campus.
Employers who are already taking apprentices will visit the four campuses to talk to students and there will be roadshows to tell existing students how moving into an apprenticeship after their course can help them meet their career goals.
Mr Reeves said the campaign will also put the spotlight on apprenticeship opportunities for people of all ages, not just school leavers. “There are apprenticeships for anyone of any age in any sector,” he said.
“The 100 in 100 campaign will help us identify people in the workplace who want to learn new skills and deliver them so they can progress, which benefits them and their employers.”
