Q3 Academy promotes apprenticeships at new event

THE importance of securing more young people into apprenticeships is being tackled head-on by a West Midland high school.

The Q3 Academy in Great Barr is staging its own event tonight to highlight the issue to students, parents, businesses and others.

Ellie Griffiths, from the school, said: “Getting more young people to take up apprenticeships is a vitally important subject and we believe that the better informed all parties are then the greater the likelihood that more young people will want to get involved.

“Tonight’s session, which takes place between 5 and 8pm, will be an opportunity for businesses, parents and students to meet and have informative discussions about apprenticeships.”

She said the subject was being treated seriously by business and almost 40 local firms were likely to be represented at the event so they could explain more about their needs and how apprenticeships worked.

The event matches the government’s strategy of trying to encourage more young people to take up apprenticeships as a way of kick-starting their careers.

Businesses are strongly supportive because of the need to close the skills gap. Many firms in the region are having to retain older workers for longer because they have no one to pass their skills on to.

More information about the event is available by visiting www.q3academy.org.uk