Northumberland College has recently launched its new apprenticeship academy that will focus on meeting the needs of apprentices and their employers.
This new academy sees apprenticeship support officers and assessors for all subjects working more closely together.
Susan Goldstein, director of the Apprenticeship Academy said: “Apprenticeships offer a fantastic opportunity for employers to recruit and further develop staff with the skills and expertise needed for their organisation’s success.
“For individuals, regardless of their age or background, apprenticeships offer access to structured industry-standard learning and qualifications. Successful apprenticeships are delivered by a robust and cohesive partnership between employer, apprentice and the college. The apprenticeship academy will ensure that each partner is clear about their responsibilities and opportunities within this process. Our aim is to support as many apprentices as we can in achieving their career and educational goals and at the same time help employers to meet current and future skills needs.”
Northumberland College is in a unique position to meet skills needs, offering as it does, more than 40 different apprenticeships at Level 2, 3 and 4, one of the largest ranges of apprenticeship subjects in the region.
The college has invested more than £10m in modern learning facilities, plus recently received further funding from the North East Local Enterprise Partnership for a £2.5m science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) centre, which will open later this year.
Susan added: “We are constantly reviewing our offer to make sure that it meets the needs of apprentices and contributes to the economic well- being of our region.”
National figures show that for every £1 of Government investment in Level 2 or 3 apprenticeships, there is typically a return of £26 to £28 and that someone with a Higher Apprentice (Level 4) could earn £150,000 more on average over their lifetime.
The Apprenticeship Academy, working in partnership with the college’s business training solutions team provide bespoke information, advice and support to employers and their apprentices.
With a history of delivering training over the last 60 years, the college has now recruited it’s 1000th apprentice April Halligan.
April, aged 18 from Fenham, Newcastle, is a bricklaying apprentice with Newcastle City Council.
The College is also supporting employers through a range of Government changes to apprenticeships, one of which is the move towards the use of apprenticeship sStandards.
Standards show what an apprentice will be doing in a particular job and the skills they need to demonstrate, in order to be considered competent.
