Northwich Guardian: 100 Apprenticeships

Week will celebrate the positive impact of apprenticeships:

The Challenge is supported by:
Northwich Guardian: 100 Apprenticeships
Back in the day, apprenticeships were often thought of as something just for young people deemed not academically bright enough to go to university. Today, modern apprenticeships are becoming the career path of choice for many school-leavers who want to get straight into work, rather than saddle themselves with thousands of pounds worth of university debt. This week sees the seventh National Apprentice Week – a time when all eyes are on apprenticeships. Co-ordinated by the National Apprenticeship Service (NAS), the week is designed to celebrate apprenticeships and the positive impact they have on individuals, businesses and the wider economy.
The aims of National Apprenticeship Week 2014:

  • Increase awareness, understanding and demand for apprenticeships.
  • Celebrate apprenticeship talent, skills, achievements and successes.
  • Promote all apprenticeship levels and progression routes, including traineeships.

A spokesman for the NAS said: “The overarching theme for National Apprenticeship Week 2014 is Great businesses are made by apprentices and apprenticeships lead to great prospects.”

If you are interested in starting an apprenticeship there are lots to choose from:

  • Accounting
  • Business administration
  • Childcare
  • Construction trades (wood occupations/trowel occupations)
  • Customer service
  • Electrical installation Engineering
  • Hairdressing
  • Health and social care
  • Hospitality and catering
  • IT application specialist
  • IT software, web and telecoms Management
  • Motor vehicle
  • Plumbing
  • Retail
  • Team leading
Northwich Guardian: 100 Apprenticeships

The Apprenticeship Challenge

The Mid Cheshire Guardian Series is calling on local employers to support the Mid Cheshire 100 Days Apprenticeship Challenge.
Apprenticeships have never been more important to the skills of the local business community and the Northwich, Winsford and Middlewich Guardian have joined forces with Mid Cheshire College to promote an exciting opportunity for apprenticeship growth.
The Mid Cheshire 100 Days Apprenticeship Challenge is open to any employer be they a large multi-national or a small to medium employer. Apprenticeships have always been in demand in traditional occupations but increasingly new occupations are developing apprenticeships from entry level right up to Foundation Degree. With over 250 Apprenticeship roles providing around 1400 employment pathways there is something for every employer to look at.

Would you like to provide a job opportunity to an apprentice?

Approximately 3,500 people started an apprenticeship in the Cheshire West and Chester area in 2012/13. Of these, approximately 400 were in the engineering and manufacturing technologies sector. There are huge benefits for employers to either employ an apprentice or invest in developing existing staff.

  • Reduce training and recruitment costs
  • Increase productivity and bottom line
  • Develop a skilled, motivated and qualified workforce
  • Improve customer service results
  • Provide financial return on investment
The National Apprenticeship Service will provide the Apprenticeship Grant for Employers of 16 to 24-year-olds (AGE 16 to 24) to eligible employers, in respect of qualifying apprentices, with an individual value of £1,500.

Employers can be paid 10 grants in total during the lifetime of the initiative. AGE 16 to 24 targets employers with less than 1,000 employees who are new to apprenticeships or haven’t enrolled a new recruit or existing employee on to an apprenticeship programme in the previous 12 months.

Are you a business that is considering an apprenticeship? Then why not partner up with a ‘Grade 1’ college such as Mid Cheshire College. To get more information regarding apprenticeships, please call our Employer Services team on 01606 720615 or visit here

Northwich Guardian: 100 Apprenticeships