Member Article

National Apprenticeship Week: North West opinion round-up

Businesses and apprentices from across the North West told Bdaily about the importance of apprenticeships, especially during National Apprenticeship Week.

Reed.co.uk said: “The apprenticeship boom of 2014 continues to thrive in the North West, with employers opening up more apprenticeship opportunities to young people, and record level of applications being made.

“School leavers and graduates are placing more emphasis on finding meaningful employment that will give them the right foundation for their future career.

“We value schemes like National Apprenticeship Week hugely, as they help to demonstrate the value of apprenticeships to employers and job seekers, and this in turn drives employment growth in key industries like retail and technology.”

Oldham building company Emanuel Whittaker celebrate generations of apprentices. John Gallaher, Emanuel Whittaker Contracts Director said: “Emanuel Whittaker has a long and distinguished record of creating training and employment opportunities for young people and we believe we have trained over 700 apprentices in our 187 year history.“

Peel Ports Chief Operation Officer, Gary Hodgson, knows the value of apprenticeships as he began his career in their shoes as 17 year old mechanical engineering apprentice with Thorn EMI – an experience he draws on when working with Peel Ports apprentices.

Gary said: “Our apprentices are hugely important to us.

“It is important that we help each and every one of them develop their career within the industry.

“We also encourage them to develop themselves as individuals, helping build their confidence and communication skills, which are just as important as the technical skills.

“When I was an apprentice I was an employee of the company and there was always going to be a job for me at the end and we have taken the same approach.

“If our apprentices have something invested in the company there’s more chance of them staying with us long term.

“From our experience apprenticeships create stronger prospects for a future workforce, as they become part of the company for longer than they would as part of a degree and have already shown us they can adapt to a working environment.”

Close Brothers banking group provide asset-based finance for Burnley based, specialist manufacturer, BCW.

Most of BCW’s workforce started as apprentices, and the company works with local schools to recruit and train school leavers.

Stephen Hodges - Managing Director & banking Chief Executive of Close Brothers said: “BCW’s apprentice programme has been core to the business from the outset, and has been hugely successful in supporting the company’s impressive growth from 10 to 120 employees.

“It’s a great example and why my advice to any SME is that if you are serious about growth, you need to be serious about apprenticeships.

“This isn’t just about hiring young staff or jumping on a political bandwagon, it’s about seizing the opportunity to build a loyal and sustainable workforce by inspiring and nurturing great talent.“

Spencer Mehlman, Managing Director of notgoingtouni.co.uk, commented: “Apprenticeships are a great option for anyone who is looking for a way into a career.

“At Not Going to Uni we work with major employers to promote apprenticeship positions in the North West, and we’ve never seen more opportunities on our site in the region.”

Andrew Hunter, co-founder of Adzuna, said: “People want to work, but many lack the skills to match the available jobs in their areas.

“This is particularly true in the North, and yet apprenticeships have gravitated towards the comparatively successful South.

“It’s a bit of a chicken and egg situation: which came first, the apprenticeships or the successful companies willing to train up skilled workers?

“Apprenticeships are the kind of investment that take some time to pay dividends.

“It’s understandable that during tough times, employers weren’t thinking this far ahead – the pressures of keeping employees in work and companies afloat overrides the kind of long-term thinking exhibited by apprenticeships.

“It’s time for companies in the North to make themselves heard. Their flourishing manufacturing, trade and construction sectors are building the foundations for tomorrow’s economy.

“With help, they’ll be able to rise to the challenge of securing the future of Britain’s skilled labour market too.“

Zoe Brimelow, Brand Director at Duo UK, said: “As a manufacturer we are constantly fighting to find individuals with the aptitude and talent we need to strengthen our team and continue to grow our business.

“This is why we feel very strongly about addressing the skills gap and investing in young talent, for us an individual’s attitude and willingness to learn is just as important as academic grades.”

Civil engineering apprentice Daniel Long works at WSP in Manchester’s infrastructure team as part of his Level 3 Diploma in Civil Engineering for Technicians (through the Institution of Civil Engineers). Daniel thinks apprenticeships are important to close the skills gap in the industry. Daniel said: “It is fairly well known that there is a skills shortage within the construction industry, which as work and demand increases is only going to get worse.

“Apprenticeships are an effective way in which more people can be brought into the industry and trained up.

“However, I think there is some work to be done with how apprenticeships are perceived.

“They can be seen as perhaps a less desirable alternative than a more traditional college or university route.

“Yet when you sit down and weigh up both options, an apprenticeship with the right company can be far more beneficial.

“This could be addressed by making a concerted effort in increasing the quality, not just quantity, of apprenticeships on offer.“

Ann-Marie, senior regeneration manager at Procure Plus, North West social housing regeneration consortium said: “As a living wage employer, we recognise the benefits it provides our employees and our business, but believe the initiative could go further - namely to support apprentices.

“Currently, those undertaking apprenticeships aren’t covered by the standard and receive just £2.73 an hour under the National Minimum Wage.

“For many, earning less than £3 an hour is an insurmountable barrier to taking up these training and employment opportunities with minimum wage salaries, as they wouldn’t be able to meet their existing financial obligations.

“As a business with a strong focus on creating apprenticeships and training opportunities, we are addressing this issue with the ‘Living Wage Plus’.”

Rob van Dorp, chief executive, Intertek UK & Eire, said: “Employing skilled and highly qualified scientists and engineers is crucial to the future of our quality and safety business, as many other UK businesses.

“We want to help students realise that science and engineering can offer a great career with dynamic, commercial and global possibilities above and beyond an academic one.

“We encourage more young people into science and engineering careers through apprenticeships, traineeships and placements.

“We also visit graduate fairs and encourage young people to visit our laboratories to experience first-hand what life as professional laboratory scientist might be like.“

Ann Beetham, business development manager at Preston’s College, said: “Apprenticeships are age irrelevant with adult learners also able to significantly enhance their career prospects and gain nationally-recognised qualifications in their chosen industry.

“The next generation of leaders are already in work today and it’s crucial that employers recognise the potential of their current workforce as a way to deal with the immediate suitability challenges and help deliver a stronger, more versatile business.”

Mick Hamill, Regional Delivery Manager for the North West at CITB, said: “The skills gap remains a threat to the comeback in the North West.

“During National Apprenticeship Week we want talented young people to consider a rewarding career in construction – as our figures show, brilliant opportunities are out there.

“With our forecast showing that over 200,000 jobs are to be created in construction over the next five years, many more firms need to take on apprentices so that our industry can deliver all of the exciting projects in the pipeline.“

Travis Perkins CEO, John Carter, recently stated: “Every company has a responsibility to start training people for the future.”

Iain Pollock, of Plumbing Trade Supplies Salford, a business within the Travis Perkins Group said:“Based on my current experience with the Travis Perkins plc management apprentices scheme I would have to say it has brought an urgency and willingness into the branch that I never would have believed possible in such a short period of time.

“My own apprentice has grown in stature and has the respect from all his fellow colleagues. He has shown great leadership skills in his current project shadowing the warehouse supervisor, and being directly responsible for eight people.

“He is already an asset to the branch and the scheme.”

Liverpool salon owner Melanie Hill said: “A salon is only as good as its staff, and helping apprentices grow and develop is part of investing in the future.

“Apprenticeships are vital for bringing the best and brightest talent into our industry, so I’m delighted so many salons are investing in them.

Jack Bates (18), Barclays Trailblazer Apprentice, commented: “Growing up, I dreamt of a high-flying career - something my family could be really proud of.

“But, after I left college, I didn’t think that was going to be possible anymore. I didn’t think I’d actually get on the Trailblazer programme, so I was really excited when I heard that I’d be joining Corporate Banking.

“It really feels like I’m getting a career at Barclays and it’s amazing that I’ll get a qualification which is the same level as a degree; it’s something I assumed I’d never be able to do.”

Norma Guest, Managing Director at MPloy Solutions, a North West careers advice specialist, comments on apprenticeship opportunities in the region: “We’ve seen a real rise in the number of North West businesses looking for an apprentice to join their ranks.

“The time has never been better to help train the workforce of tomorrow, with the current AGE grant and recent removal of National Insurance payments for under 21s making taking on an apprentice both a positive and cost-effective choice.

“The best advice I can give to businesses considering running an apprenticeship scheme is to ensure that your apprentice’s skills and ambitions are properly matched to your industry.

“A specialist can help you by ensuring that you receive focused, work-ready candidates who are going to be a true asset to your business whilst hugely benefiting from the training you provide.

“It’s also well worth seeking advice on possible funding options and potential links with colleges and training providers so that your recruit can have access to all the right qualifications for your industry.

“With all of this in place, businesses have the opportunity to provide invaluable training to the region’s workforce of tomorrow whilst themselves reaping the benefits.“

Paul Sweeney, CEO of ANS Group said: “Whilst the option of going to further and higher education is available, the curriculum is often too broad by definition.

“Often, at the end of a three-year course, items and areas studied have been superseded by new technologies or IT concepts, the very nature of IT.

“The UK has aspirations to be a world digital leader and the North will play a huge part in that.

“Our Apprentice Academy is nurturing young talent and helping develop the next generation of digital leaders.”

UKFast’s CEO Lawrence Jones MBE – launched the company’s own apprenticeship scheme, run entirely in-house, having invested millions into education and training. As well as recruiting two former teachers to head up the department, Jones also created a dedicated training space in the company’s HQ where apprentices receive Ofsted-accredited training and can study for relevant industry qualifications.

He has commented: “National Apprenticeship Week is a nice opportunity to shout about the benefits of apprenticeships; however, there’s still some way to go when it comes to raising the bar across the board and ensuring the relationship between a business and its apprentices is both fair and mutually beneficial.

“One of the things we set out to do when we launched our apprenticeship scheme at UKFast was to reject the idea of apprentices as cheap labour.

“As such, we pay more than double the national average for apprentices, and help them gain the relevant industry accreditations.

“As business owners, it’s our responsibility to pay them the wage they are earning and to help them forge the careers that they want, so it’s always disappointing to hear of companies that still view these young people as a way to get high output for very little input.

“There are some excellent organisations out there empowering and developing young people; Timpson’s and Rolls Royce for example. Yet I fear some apprentices aren’t getting this kind of quality and support.

“In many industries, technology included, people often complain of a skills gap. But, done right, apprenticeships are a solution to this problem, equipping young people with the skills this country needs.

“It’s time for all business owners to see these schemes as an opportunity to help both the apprentices and the business to grow together.

“I have been incredibly proud of our apprentices, whose passion and eagerness has rippled throughout the whole business. Even if you can only take on one, I would highly recommend it!“

One of the Intertek apprentices, Damien Beesley, 20, who works as an Apprentice Analyst while studying a BTec in Applied Science at Trafford College of Science and Technology explained how he joined the company, which he really enjoys:

“I had gone to college to do IT and maths and wasn’t sure what to do next and so was working in a bar in Wigan.

“I was pretty sure that I did not want to go to Uni. My brother-in-law had heard about the Apprentice scheme at Intertek and so I submitted my CV and was offered an interview.

“A few days later I was offered an Apprenticeship.

“I get to use some really exciting bits of kit! Some days I work using an X-Ray Fluorescence Spectrometry to test which chemical elements are in a sample and some days I get to work on the ICP-OES instrument (stands for inductively coupled plasma – optical emission spectroscopy) which can tell the levels of metal elements that are in the sample.

“I feel proud when I see products in shops that I may have worked on and so have helped the clients who make the products, in some small way, to make sure they are safe and have no harmful chemicals in them.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Sophia Taha .