National Apprenticeship Week to showcase employment and training opportunities for young people

Swindon is playing a full part in National Apprenticeship Week with businesses, public service employers and recruitment advisors showcasing the array of employment opportunities available to people in the town.

National Apprenticeship Week is a national yearly celebration where businesses and apprentices come together to celebrate the success of apprenticeships and the advantages they offer to people in Swindon, from 5 March to 9 March. Throughout the week the Council and a number of local businesses including Zurich, the Great Western Hospital and Excalibur will be sharing stories and information about the benefits apprenticeships can have for both the people who take up the positions and the businesses that employ them. Videos of insurance apprentice Alex, NHS apprentice Joe, and business apprentice Tarlia talking about their experiences can be watched on the Council Facebook page: www.facebook.com/swindonboroughcouncil. Apprenticeships are available in more than 170 industries covering over 1,500 job roles from advertising to youth work and from environmental engineering to legal, with qualifications starting at entry level and going all the way up to degree level. The advantage of an apprenticeship is the ability to earn a salary while you are training and gaining experience in a real work environment. They are also available for people of all ages and career stages. Anyone can search and apply for an apprenticeship by visiting apprenticeships.gov.uk, with many openings available in Swindon for people of all ages. Cllr Oliver Donachie, Swindon Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Economy and Skills, said: “Apprenticeships are a great opportunity for those people who don’t want to go to university that would prefer to learn on the job. “Being able to learn whilst also earning money can be a massive bonus and the range of apprenticeships available shows that Swindon is a very good place for young people looking to develop their careers. “The Council is working hard to support local businesses to develop apprenticeship placements in their organisations, with many already offering some brilliant opportunities.” Alison Maskell, UK Early Careers Manager at Zurich, said: "At Zurich we have an extensive Early Careers programme which includes apprenticeships, internships, work experience and Future Leader graduate programmes which offer a wide range of opportunities for people just starting their careers. “Our apprenticeships programme in particular provides a fantastic springboard for those looking for an alternative career path to university, enabling them to gain valuable business experience and earn a salary at the same time. “By sharing his story, we hope that Alex's apprenticeship will inspire others to consider insurance as a career and help us develop the next generation of insurance talent ready to make a difference to our customers, shape our future business and develop the insurance professionals and leaders of tomorrow.” Nicola Green, Training and Development Lead for the Wider Workforce at Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said: “The Trust is one of an increasing number of employers welcoming apprentices, giving you more opportunities than ever to get into an NHS work environment. “Our goal is for young people to see apprenticeships as a path to successful careers within the NHS and many of our apprentices have gone on to secure a permanent post within Great Western Hospital. “Apprenticeships also deliver significant benefits to our organisation, improving quality of service, increasing productivity and raising skill levels.” Peter Boucher, the CEO of Excalibur added: “We are a massive fan of apprenticeships because they’re a great opportunity for young adults to get into the world of work and pick up essential skills and qualifications which wouldn’t traditionally be picked up from staying in education."