Greenwich Community College

A member of staff, Chelsey Ward (20), who started at the College one year ago on a Job Centre Plus 8 week work placement. She impressed so much that she was offered a job in the finance department and in September started an Accountancy Apprenticeship with the College.

Havering College of Further and Higher Education

APPRENTICESHIPS PLAY A PART IN OLYMPIC PARK ART

AN ART installation at the Olympic Park is illustrating how an apprenticeship can sculpt a bright future.

Bespoke metal rings, each weighing up to half-a-tonne, are being suspended in the boughs of large semi-mature trees to mark the new entrances into the 500-acre Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park after the London 2012 Games.

The rings are being produced by Benson Sedgwick, a specialist engineering company based in Selinas Lane, Dagenham. Havering College of Further and Higher Education is proud to work with the company delivering an apprenticeship programme.

Benson Sedgwick employee Dean Gunn, 21, has just completed his Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship in Fabrication and Welding with the college.

The Olympic tree ring project, which Dean is currently working on, is just one example of the specialist orders the company receives from some of the UK's leading artists.

While friends of the same age are graduating from universities and struggling to find jobs, Dean is climbing the career ladder having recently been given responsibility for the day-to-day running of the factory.

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AoC London Colleges’ apprenticeships case studies

Dean, from Hornchurch, is in no doubt that an apprenticeship was a smart move when he left Abbs Cross Academy & Arts College aged 16 with an impressive cache of 13 A-C grade GCSEs.

He said: “I always knew I wanted to work in engineering and after school I wanted to move onto engineering college. Once I started at Havering College I was fortunate to be on as an apprentice by Benson Sedgwick. I am glad I decided to take the apprenticeship route. A lot of my friends who went to university are now graduating and finding it difficult to get work. By taking the route I did I have secured a job while learning. My ambition now is to help the company grow. They have helped me out with the apprenticeship and I would like to return the favour in a way.”

Benson Sedgwick co-director Barry Goillau believes there are big benefits to be gained by companies taking on apprentices who typically spend four days in the workplace and one at College.

He said: “Going through an apprenticeship shows a willingness to learn and a commitment to the industry. The benefits to the business are that you can educate someone in the areas you need and in your established methods of working. Dean is only 21 but we are confident in his abilities and in time he will be getting more and more involved in the decision making processes of the company. Taking on a young person is quite a big responsibility but the College helps to fulfil some of that role in education, training and health and safety.”

APPRENTICES DISCOVER A BRIGHT FUTURE WITH TECHNOLOGY LEADER

TEENAGER Nick Faulks is working at the cutting edge of technology and helping to save lives.

As an apprentice with e2v, the 19-year-old is training to become a line engineer producing thyratrons – a highly specialised component used in medical applications such as radiotherapy.

With e2v imaging sensors onboard NASA's Mars rover, other exciting new frontiers may lie ahead for the former Chelmer Valley High School pupil once he completes his apprenticeship in Electronic Engineering, delivered in

partnership with Havering College of Further and Higher Education.

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Chelmsford resident Nick, who spends four days in the workplace and one at Havering College, said: “I always knew I wanted to be an engineer but I didn’t fancy going to university. Being local I knew of e2v, saw the apprenticeship scheme advertised and applied for it. “My university friends are being told it will be hard to get a job in engineering just with a degree because they don’t have any experience whereas I will come out with an HNC at 21 with five years’ experience. For me an apprenticeship was definitely the right decision.”

Chris Hawkins – e2v apprentice manager – believes apprenticeships are a key to future success. He said: “Apprenticeships are helping to fill a skills gap. We have an aging workforce with a lot of knowledge at the top but we will lose those people when they retire. By having young people coming in and working up, the experienced, mature workers pass their knowledge on. The apprentices also come in with fresh pairs of eyes and see things from a different perspective. We give them experience of different placements within the company so they can see what division they want to go into such as medical and science, aerospace and defence or commercial and industrial markets. We work very closely with Havering College and the relationship is really good. The college has listened, responded and tailor-made the course to suit our business needs. There is a good level of monitoring of the apprentices.”

e2v currently has 27 apprentices on the scheme and holds an open day at its Chelmsford site in February when anyone interested can chat to current apprentices and their managers. For further details on the e2v apprentice scheme visit www.e2v.com

Bromley College of FE and HE

Coreco: “Apprentices bring enthusiasm and energy to the business”

Coreco, a leading London-based provider of independent mortgage and financial advice, joined forced with Bromley College in June 2011 to launch a range of

Apprenticeships in Financial Services.

Capital B, Bromley College’s employer services team, worked closely with Coreco to recruit five new financial services apprentices.

Asad Khan was recruited by Coreco and is studying on the Advanced Apprenticeship in Providing Mortgage Advice. Asad described why he chose a

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career within financial services: “The financial services industry is a dynamic, challenging environment that rewards ingenuity and initiative. It is a fast paced and exciting industry which thrives on consistent improvement and embracing new technology.”

He decided to choose an Apprenticeship over going to university due to “the opportunity of obtaining the necessary qualifications, skills and training that are crucial for success in the industry.”

Asad is enjoying his Apprenticeship: “It’s great to have the opportunity to benefit from the wisdom, knowledge and experiences of well-established individuals in your company and to be taught by the people whom you one day aspire to become.”

Asad went on to say why he would recommend an Apprenticeship: “It is the right choice for you if you're self-motivated, eager to learn and want to take advantage of benefitting from opportunities to launch yourself to new heights.”

Roy Hardy, Director of Coreco, was first drawn to Apprenticeships as “the scheme provides an excellent route to taking on young people and training them to our own standards. It also provides an a viable alternative to university study allowing young people to continue to obtain relevant qualifications whist gaining valuable vocational experience in the workplace. We believe that for the right people an Apprenticeship is far more valuable than university, giving them a head start and hopefully leading to a successful career in financial services and hopefully with Coreco.

“Our apprentices bring enthusiasm and energy to our business. They are keen to learn and have no preconceived ideas, aren’t set in their ways and ask questions. The apprentices are doing real jobs which contribute greatly to our efficiency as a business.”

Roy concluded by saying: “I would urge any young person who is out of work and concerned about their future to apply for an Apprenticeship. As an employer I would be far happier taking on someone who has gained a year to 18 months experience in the workplace and gained some further qualifications. We

are passionate believers in Apprenticeships and could not be any happier with the results we have had so far."

Lewisham College, incorporating Southwark College

For Connor Holgate, an apprenticeship is about taking that next step to

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fulfilling his dream. “For me, my ambition is to run my own pub. This will help me get there quicker.” Connor works at Shepherd Neame’s Ye Olde Whyte Lyon in Orpington, and when his pub’s landlord found out about the Level 2 Licensed Hospitality Apprenticeship, delivered with care by Lewisham College through The Skills People, he suggested to Connor that he join. “I’ve been working in bars since I was 18 and this is what I want to do. I’m enthusiastic about it,” Connor says.

Connor is experienced – he helps to train new staff – but what his apprenticeship is about is developing management responsibilities. “For me, Shepherd Neame far exceeds other breweries because they already train standard bar staff to very high level, so I felt ready to progress,” Connor says. The Licensed Hospitality Apprenticeship is adding another level of knowledge to Connor’s skills, with compliance and management being added to Connor’s

current list of skills. Shepherd Neame believes in investing in people, so the apprenticeship works for everyone. Connor receives a recognized qualification that furthers his dream of becoming a pub landlord while Shepherd Neame, through Lewisham College, trains a member of staff to management level expertise.

I was looking for a course that would put me on the right path to a career. I’d always been interested in construction, so I joined a brickwork course when I was 18. I got a thrill out of doing something different

and I felt really proud that I was good at brickwork. The College offered me a lot of support and helped me navigate the challenge of being a woman in the construction trade. I became an apprentice at the Olympics, working on countless walls at the Olympic Park, and I won the Olympic Delivery Authority’s Apprentice of the Year. Through my work on the Olympic site, I met the Queen and Gordon Brown, and I kept working at Galostar.

I progressed to Level 3 and I finished 2nd place in the Young Builder of the Year, a UK-wide competition presented by Youthbuild UK. I’ve won the London SkillBuild in Bricklaying twice, the first woman to ever win. It was a great challenge! I’m currently studying Building Studies and I am working with Skanska, who offered me the opportunity to join them as a Quantity Surveyor. I want to go as far as I can, right up to the top. I don’t where I’ll end up, but I have the ambition to learn everything I can to be great at my job.

When Daniel Bennett left school three years ago his future looked uncertain. Today, the 18-year-old is looking forward to a career in one of the country’s

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most exciting industries. As a creative apprentice employed by Lewisham College incorporating Southwark College, he’s gained invaluable training and experience in putting on a show, from stage management, to set construction and lighting.

“What I’ve really enjoyed, is that you’re not just sitting in a classroom – you get loads of outside experience,” said Daniel. “I’ve had a lot of practical,

hands-on work experience and have helped out on productions at the National Theatre and Edinburgh Fringe.”

Daniel, from Greenwich, took a one-year technical theatre and stage production course at Lewisham after leaving school. He knew he wanted to work in some area of theatre production and found the course gave him an excellent grounding. “I normally struggle with studying because I am dyslexic,” said Daniel. “But the college gave me a lot of support and the coursework was all based on evidence, so I could take photographs with short captions for my assessments.”

After he finished the course Daniel was accepted for a creative apprenticeship at the college. His tutor Sue Baynton, said he’s a great role model for new students. “Everywhere he has worked, people have been full of praise for Daniel,” said Sue. “He’s a positive role model because students can see how far he has come.”

Tower Hamlets College

Emma Maclaine, 18, from Bow, Level 2 Business Administration Apprentice at Richardson Supply

I chose to train on an apprenticeship because a full-time College course didn’t suit me. I

knew I needed more qualifications, but really wanted to start working so knew this was the best way to do it.

TowerSkills was the right training provider for me because it’s nearby, and it was recommended to me by friends that were studying there. Everyone is supportive, and I know lots of friendly staff there that I can go to for help and advice when I need it.

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My day-to-day job tasks include logging quotes and orders, opening the post, taking phone calls and filing. I help take the pressure off my colleagues so they can concentrate on other work.

The Employer

What I really like about Richardson Supply is they’re really supportive and push me to achieve. I now understand their system and know their customers.

Next Steps

I definitely want to progress on to the Level 3 Apprenticeship in Business Administration once I complete the Level 2. I would certainly consider working full-time at Richardson Supply thereafter and start moving up the career ladder.

Jonathan Beedie, 21, from Woolwich, Level 2 Design Apprentice at thinkerdoer

I wanted to do an apprenticeship as it’s the step before full time employment. I work four days a week and have one day in College, so that I can develop skills in class and take them back into work.

I started o with thinkerdoer just as work experience, but they decided to help get me placed on an apprenticeship and contacted TowerSkills on my behalf. My apprenticeship starts this month and I’m really looking forward to it! I’m hoping to develop more advanced theory and technical knowledge using the Mac Suites at College, as I have been researching basic techniques and teaching myself how to use design software up until now.

I and my employer chose TowerSkills as the training provider because it has good travel links and is close to Canary Wharf. We visited the College to look at the facilities and we were really impressed! Becoming an apprentice is great – being employed four days a week and meeting new, like-minded people at College – I can’t wait!

My day-to-day duties include assisting with design projects using Photoshop, InDesign and Illustrator. I also got to create thinkerdoer’s website, and have helped create the design elements of two big websites for our clients. I’d say the favourite part of my job so far though has been assisting with branding, sharing my suggestions for logos and fonts with the creative team.

The Employer

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What I really like about working for thinkerdoer is that I feel like my opinion really matters. Anthony and Lynda, my employers, are really easy to work with and it’s a really friendly environment in the o- ce, which I know isn’t always the case in such a tough industry.

Next Steps

Once I nish my apprenticeship, I would like to work full-time here and see where it takes me. Ultimately, I would like to have my own design company!

Uxbridge College

British Airways –Aircraft Maintenance Apprenticeship Programme In this scheme Uxbridge College works with British Airways to recruit, prepare and train apprentices. In a pre-apprenticeship year learners complete an engineering diploma alongside work experience and training with BA. Those who pass interview at the end of the first year are taken on as full apprentices by BA, working with the company four days a week and spending one day a week at college. Once the apprenticeship is completed, trainees may secure a permanent position with BA or enter a higher education course.

Student case study – Advanced Apprenticeship Faye Cooper, 18, is an excellent example of a young person who has made a success of one of the more contemporary apprenticeships – Business Administration. She started the qualification as a full-time member of staff at the air freight company Damco at the age of 16 where she completed her Intermediate Apprenticeship (Level 2), then changed job and joined the skills development organisation People First to complete her Advanced Apprenticeship (Level 3). Faye was the winner of the Advanced Apprentice Award sponsored by Hillingdon Chamber of Commerce at Uxbridge College’s Annual Awards 2012.

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