Cath Brierley, Deputy Principal at Stoke on Trent College, talks about her ‘immersion into apprenticeships’, myths around them and the benefits of them to employers.
“You may think there are barriers to employing or becoming an apprentice and they may seem quite daunting and complex, at Stoke on Trent College, we will ensure a positive experience for both the apprentice and employer.
I am a great champion of apprenticeships and understand their importance for the country’s economy and future. My own father started as an apprentice, progressing to be a master carpenter and eventually running an extremely successful architectural company.
As someone who trained through the apprenticeship route, he had a lifelong commitment to employing apprentices, many of whom progressed to establish companies of their own. This immersion into apprenticeships provided me with an overview and of their relevance and the opportunity they serve to deliver the skills needed both regionally and nationally.
Apprenticeships are a fantastic way of gaining industry skills and expertise in a chosen field with the perfect blend of skills developed by the employer and the training provided by the College. They provide a unique opportunity to learn whilst you earn, with apprenticeships taking anywhere from a year up to four years to complete, depending on the apprenticeship type.
For a number of years apprenticeships have been misunderstood, with one of the most common myths being they are just for school leavers; which is simply not the case. There is no age limit for those wishing to begin an apprenticeship and there is a wealth of options from Level 2 through to degree-level apprenticeships, depending on your chosen field or interest.
Studies have also shown that businesses who take on apprentices have higher staff retention and see a boost in motivation and satisfaction in their workforces.
Here at Stoke on Trent College we regularly host Skills Advisory Panels across each of our four Skills Hubs. These panels are an opportunity for employers to come together and discuss their specific skills needs in order that we can shape our offer and explore ways to future-proof local business requirements.
These purposeful partnerships ensure that the workforce is equipped with the necessary and current skills demanded by evolving industries and by aligning our courses with real-world requirements, we support students to be skills-ready and future-ready, reducing the time and resources employers spend on additional training.
During National Apprenticeship Week we are showing why it’s the right time to embrace the apprenticeship journey. If you’re an employer and wish to invest in skills for your organisation’s future, hiring an apprentice is the perfect solution. Get in touch with our Apprenticeships and Skills Team on business@stokecoll.ac.uk, who will be happy to talk you through the process.”
