Linzi Monks, Preston College
As training providers and colleges, we really do work together to provide what is needed. There is a competitive element and we’ve all got things we are trying to market, but for our employers and learners we’ll come together. If we can’t offer something, we know who can.
Preston and Blackpool have recently been to Burnley, sharing our ideas about onboarding processes. There’s nothing that we hide from each other.
Retention has been a massive challenge. We now offer everybody a place on our full-time programmes, with a year-round transfer system into apprenticeships available. It has proved, specifically in construction, to be really positive, both for the employer and the prospective apprentice. It’s a bit of a try-before-you-buy model.
In construction we had 50 transfers from full-time to apprentices last year. We’ve already had 34 this year. Retention is really starting to improve, based on that model.
Gillian Aquilina, Nelson & Colne College Group
It is important the message we all put out as training providers is really open and honest because you can’t always meet every need and somebody else might fit better. It is about inviting employers in and having a direct line of communication so they can speak to a range of providers.
Recruiting the right apprentice for the skills gap that needs filling can be a challenge, as is retention along the programmes, particularly in construction.
Yes, we do have apprenticeships, but what actually fits
every employer’s need? As a college we’re looking at our delivery models. Can we adapt them to be more flexible? We’ve got this recommended length of programme but does that suit every apprentice coming in?
How can we make it work better? An apprentice starts on a three-year apprenticeship and so much can happen in that time.
Charlotte Ward, Runshaw College
When it comes to apprenticeships we have our own in-house students who may go on and leave college. We do a lot of careers work with our current students. We look at what’s going to be best for them in terms of programmes. I speak to those applicants and find out what it is they want to do. When it comes to retention, vacancy matching is crucial.
We want to recruit with integrity. We don’t want to put somebody in a place that’s not going to be right for them. It’s making sure that it’s the right fit for everybody involved. We don’t want to be setting somebody up to fail. That’s not a good thing for the apprentice or the employer.
We have employer partnership boards where we invite local businesses in from various sectors to discuss various things. They can be quite heated debates at times, but always fun.
Chris Brown, Brown and Co
I was an apprentice at Blackpool and The Fylde College many years ago. A lot of people forget that service-based industries have a huge role to play in apprenticeships. There’s often this perception that you need to go to university, but I didn’t want to go to university and I took a great route into the accountancy profession.
There’s a huge piece that employers need to work on with the colleges when it comes to essential skills, communication, challenging teamwork. The technical side is fine, that’s sorted.
There’s also a big gap between large and small employers. The small employers still think, ‘I don’t want to take an apprentice on because I’ll train them up and then they’ll disappear, they’ll go to big firms.’ SMEs are not working with the colleges as closely as they should when it comes to shaping the curriculum and saying, ‘these are the skills we need in our business’.
LANCASHIREBUSINESSVIEW.CO.UK
To find out more about both fantastic opportunities simply fill in the form at
www.lancashireskillshub.co.uk/ lancashire-skills-pledge
Or email
lancsskillshub@lancashirelep.co.uk
Dr Michele Lawty-Jones Director
@LancsSkillsHub Lancashire-Skills-Pledge
@LancsSkillsHub
APPRENTICESHIPS PROVIDE OPTIONS TO
RESKILL AND UPSKILL Finding the right people for your business has never been more important. Apprenticeships are an exciting option aimed to support you to reskill or upskill your organisation.
By offering an apprenticeship you can ensure that the skills developed are matched to your company’s current and future needs. This will help fill any skills gaps and allow your business to source future managers and leaders from within.
Businesses can employ apprentices at different levels, from school leavers and university graduates to people who want to further their careers or change career direction completely. You can hire someone new or upskill an existing employee.
If you want to know more but need some help, then sign up to the Lancashire Skills Pledge.
The skills pledge is a free service and provides Lancashire businesses with one door to find out more about the skills and training initiatives in Lancashire including:
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• How to reach those that would not consider applying for a job
• Get information on apprentice initiatives and incentives for businesses
• Access levy funding to pay for the apprenticeship training
Also, as a skills pledge employer, you can gain recognition for the great work you already do for your employees.
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APPRENTICESHIPS
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