The college’s first ever apprenticeships roadshow has been hailed a success after generating interest in a dozen new apprenticeships.
To mark Apprenticeships Week last week, the employer services team travelled around the four major college centres to present the case for apprenticeships, which are one of the Government’s flagship education policies.
They were joined by over six businesses keen to celebrate Capel Manor apprenticeships, and some of the college’s 120 apprentices who gave their view on the benefits of the scheme.
Linda Hope, Employer Services Manager, said that despite variations in the numbers of people attending, the college generated enough interest from several employers for new placements while she hoped more interest would come from the 1,500 people who were contacted prior to the event.
She said: “It was a really good experience for the college, we have never had employer events of this type and scale before. It was a lot of hard work and we learned a lot but it yielded many benefits such as a new brochure about the department, two DVDs about our horticulture and arboriculture apprenticeships, and crucially links with new employers and apprentices. The week also cemented our good relationship with the Royal Parks team, for whom we are the sole providers of apprentices, who joined us in Regent’s Park to present the programme.”
On Monday, Mrs Hope told an audience of 30 that apprenticeships were seen as “progressive” by many employers.
She said: “At a time of recession, Apprenticeships is one area the Government is investing in, with plans to create 75,000 adult apprenticeships by 2014.
“The most important thing for an apprentice is earning while learning, while they also learn employability skills, such as teamwork and discipline. Many of those you will hear doing presentations today you could not have imagined having the confidence to stand up and speak in front of a room of people a year ago.”
Steve Biggs, from Bartlett Tree Experts, which has taken five apprentices on the Capel Manor scheme in the past three years, said: “It’s not as much work as you would think and is a good chance to give something back. In return, we get a very keen and motivated individual, a very good team spirit as the more experienced workers want to mentor the apprentice, and as the old mantra goes, a happy workforce is a productive workforce.”
Rafia Sultana Hogg, 39, apprentice employed directly by Capel Manor, which has six apprentices working on its 30-acre estate, said: “One of the benefits is that I am earning money to go to college, and I’m also working in a professional environment. The range of skills and specialist experience I am gaining will really benefit me in the long term.”
