THE APPRENTICESHIP GUIDE
Eighty four per cent of firms are expecting to maintain or increase investment in training their workforce, according to the latest CBI/ Pearson Education and Skills Annual Report. It is a valuable sector, not just because it ensures the skills of the future, but because it is an industry in its own right. UK employers spent £44.2 billion on training in 2017. The report claims 45 per cent of respondents value all qualifications equally – with 29 per cent looking for a mix of academic and technical education post- 16. This includes academic (A-Levels), career-focused (such as BTEC) and occupational (apprenticeships and T-Levels). More than four in five businesses polled (86 per cent) now offer apprenticeship programmes. Sixty three per cent say they plan to expand such training in the future and 54 per cent have created new schemes. Matthew Fell, CBI chief UK policy director, said:“Firms are generally happy with the academic knowledge of young people applying for jobs in the past year but prioritise ‘work readiness’ when recruiting school and college leavers. “It’s clear that more emphasis is needed on ensuring young people have the character, behaviours and attributes to succeed in the world of work. “With over half of businesses anticipating the need to upskill and retrain their workforce in the coming year, it’s clear that we are entering a decade that will be defined by a step-change in the level of re-training for those already in work. “Turning the UK into a nation of lifelong learners will be critical to ensure our country is well placed to reap the benefits of digital, technology and other changes in the workplace" l Training is becoming more valuable than ever
had my job. I don’t think any of them considered or knew about apprenticeships when they made their decision on which route to take,” said Ms Winter. For Mr Hall, whose older brother went off to Oxford
Matt Hall and Richard Graham
University, father is an engineer at the county’s biggest aerospace and defence firm and mother a research manager at Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Trust, a place to study architecture at UWE was also on offer post Hartpury. But it was what Moose put on the table that drew his attention. After also impressing on a work placement, he too was offered an apprenticeship in marketing, and realised he could pursue photography, both creative and news, explore design, sales, website development, client management, advertising. You name it. “I knew that here I would get plenty of hands on experience, and that has been the case. In a big firm I felt there might be a risk of becoming just another number. Here I am not,” said Mr Hall, who like Ms Winters passed his Level 3 qualification with flying colours. “I also wanted to earn while I learned, and become independent rather than the opposite, without any work experience under my belt” l
BethWinter
Send a covering letter and CV to Mark@moosemarketingandpr.co.uk haveyougotwhat it takes tobe ournextapprentice?
December 2019 | www. punchline-gloucester .com | 47
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