Further Education 2010-11
Employer event highlights importance of apprenticeships to Eden's economy
24 August 2009
A recent breakfast event at North Lakes Hotel, raised the profile and demonstrated the importance of apprenticeships in improving competitiveness, productivity, and profitability for businesses in Eden.
The event covered the advantages, to employers, of having an apprentice and the current and future ways of accessing an apprentice. The event also provided employers with an opportunity to find out how, whilst apprenticeships are generally designed for people under 24, there are a number of adult apprenticeships available for those who may want to retrain or improve their skills.
The event was introduced by John Weir, Chairman of Eden 14-19/apprenticeship group and focused on nurtering the Eden Workforce of Tomorrow. Presentations were also given by Anne Isherwood, Vice Principal of Kendal College; Stephen Gilby, Director of 14-19 Curriculum at Carlisle College; Emma Mitchell, of the division of employer responsiveness at the University of Cumbria and Philip Bell from the Apprenticeship Matching Service.
The Apprenticeship Matching Service is a new, national service which allows employers to recruit apprentices. Employers can post vacancies on the service's website. Young people can register on the website and training providers across the UK 'match up' young people with employers and an appropriate apprenticeship scheme, which is still offered as completely free training by most providers.
The service enables employers and training providers to work in partnership to raise the skills levels of young people, improving productivity and profitability.
The presentation was attended by 25 people from Eden employers including Cranstons and Eden Housing Association. Tom Watt, who is an apprentice currently working at Cranstons spoke in glowing terms about how Kendal College had helped with his English and maths skills. Factory Manager of Cranstons, David Law, also talked about how apprenticeships are an integral part of the company's tradition and that the scheme helped to provide them with skilled, confident and ambitious employees.
Apprenticeships are a key part in the economic regeneration of Eden and can be a more appropriate route for some young people, which can open the door and allow them to study at degree level by, for instance, studying a Foundation Degree at a local college, whilst continuing to work full time. The Foundation Degree can then be 'topped up' to a full honours degree with a final year at a university such as the University of Cumbria.
All of the further education colleges in Cumbria, along with the University of Cumbria have an established history of providing apprenticeship training for a wide range of industries.
