National Apprenticeship Week 2014 Toolkit & T-shirt launched

Now in its seventh year, National Apprenticeship Week will be taking place 3^rd-7^th March 2014 and hundreds of activities are expected to take place as employers, individuals and partners across England show their support for Apprenticeships.

National Apprenticeship Week is coordinated by National Apprenticeship Service and is a way of celebrating Apprenticeships and the positive impact they have on individuals, businesses and the wider economy.

Last year, 984 events took place during National Apprenticeship Week resulting in a thousands of pieces of media coverage and social media activity, a rise in public awareness of Apprenticeships to 58%, and 18,000 online apprentice registrations and an overall uplift in support for Apprenticeships.

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This year the National Apprenticeship Service is encouraging employers to organise events and activities under the theme of ‘Great Apprenticeships’ in order to demonstrate that Apprenticeships are great for businesses, personal careers and creating opportunities for both employers and apprentices.

An online toolkit has been launched to support training organisations, employers, schools and individuals that want to get involved at apprenticeships.org.uk. And a series of workshops across the country during December and January are also being arranged to help partners find out more. The first three sessions are:

• 4^th December, Bristol: http://bit.ly/NAWBristol
• 5^th December, Birmingham: http://bit.ly/NAWBham
• 12^th December, Leeds: http://bit.ly/NAWLeeds

Some examples of how employers can support the week include:

• Wearing the new T-shirt designed by apprentice Rebecca Timson and launched at last week’s National Apprenticeship Awards: http://www.apprenticeships.org.uk/news-media/latest-news/article385.aspx
• Entering next year’s Brathay Apprentice Challenge (visit brathay.org.uk)
• Arranging for a member of management and an apprentice to take part in a job swap
• Hosting a ‘Made by apprentices’ open day to showcase the work of  apprentices to others
• Tweeting pictures of products that have been #madebyapprentices
• Use the pledgeometer, new for 2014, to pledge apprentice job vacancies in the run to, and during the week.

Karen Woodward, Interim National Director of Apprenticeships at the National Apprenticeship Service, said: “To be counting down to the seventh National Apprenticeship Week is really exciting and I look forward to being part of an even more exciting week with more partners supporting the Week. I am particularly keen to see examples of the great work that is created by apprentices.

“National Apprenticeship Week is a fantastic opportunity to shine the spotlight on Apprenticeships and how they help employers grow their own talent and provide a great opportunity for apprentices to earn while they learn.”

To find out more, visit www.apprenticeships.org.uk.