The sixth annual National Apprenticeship Week will take place from 11-15 March and looks set to be the biggest and best yet, with hundreds of events expected to take place across England.
The Week, which is co-ordinated by the National Apprenticeship Service, is designed to celebrate Apprenticeships and the positive impact they have on individuals, businesses and the economy.
Every year the Week increases in popularity and National Apprenticeship Week 2012 was a phenomenal success, with more than 800 events and activities on offer. These ranged from business events designed to encourage more employers to recruit apprentices, to interactive careers events aimed at potential apprentices.
Highlights from last year included:
- Derby County FC introducing local apprentices to a capacity crowd before the local derby kick-off with Nottingham Forest.
- Channel 4 apprentices showcasing their own film charting their Apprenticeship journey.
- Six Serco apprentices employed at Royal Naval Air Service Yeovilton ran an Imagineering Club at Ilchester Primary school.
- Liverpool City Region’s The Big Event showcased employer vacancies to around 10,000 young people, providers and employers.
A huge range of organisations support National Apprenticeship Week by organising activities, including employers, apprentices, business and education organisations, learning providers, colleges and schools.
This year, supporters are being encouraged to organise events and activity around the theme “Apprenticeships Deliver” – showcasing the benefits high quality Apprenticeships deliver for both apprentices and their employers.
David Way, Chief Executive of the National Apprenticeship Service, said: “We hope that this year’s National Apprenticeship Week will be the biggest yet, showcasing the excellent work delivered by apprentices in businesses and organisations around the country and the first rate training they receive
“Apprenticeships help young people develop high quality, highly sought-after skills, improving their prospects while boosting an organisation’s bottom line. And currently small and medium-sized companies can also benefit from a £1,500 Apprenticeship Grant for Employers when they recruit their first apprentice, so there has never been a better time to get involved.”
A toolkit with lots of practical advice and ideas to help organisations plan their own events is available on the website. A national calendar of events will also be available on the website too, so individuals can find out what is happening in their local area.
