Mel Stride MP is promoting the benefits of apprenticeships, both for apprentices and employers, during National Apprenticeship Week 2019 which runs from 4th to 8th March. 750 people started apprenticeships in the Central Devon constituency in the 2016/17 academic year - the third most of the past 12 years and more than twice the number of starts there were a decade ago when 340 apprenticeships were started in 2006/07.
During the week Mel caught up with two organisations in his constituency delivering apprenticeship courses including Focus Training in Heathfield, Bovey Tracey. The company, who Mr Stride visited in March 2018, is in the process of opening a major new training centre in Plymouth. The company offers apprenticeship and commercial training in Retail, Hospitality, Care, Sales, Warehousing, Business Administration, Management, Team Leading and Customer Service.
Mr Stride said:
“Apprenticeships are a fantastic way to gain the skills and experience needed to embark on a successful career while earning. Nearly 75% stay with the same employer after their apprenticeship finishes, 90% stay in employment overall and 25% gain a promotion within a year of finishing. 9 out of 10 employers say they are that are satisfied with their apprenticeship programme and three-quarters say that apprentices have improved their business’s productivity or the quality of their product or service.”
Apprenticeships are available in 1,500 job roles, covering more than 170 industries. Up to 28,000 quality apprenticeship vacancies are available online at any one time, with the quickest and easiest way to find out more information being to visit www.apprenticeships.org.uk.
