National Apprenticeship Week 2022

With 719,000 people participating in apprenticeships in 2019/20 in England, many apprentices and companies are marking National Apprenticeship Week this week.

This year’s celebration has the theme of ‘build the future’ to encourage everyone to consider how apprenticeships can help young people get on the employment ladder and build the skills for a rewarding career.

The Business Desk took a look at some companies that are celebrating the impact their apprentices have had.

Nationwide Platforms, a provider of powered access machines for hire, invested in 40 HGV apprentices at the end of 2021 following the national shortage of drivers.

Single-dad Cleveland McGory was successful in securing a place on the scheme which attracted 2,500 applicants, talks about his new beginning at Nationwide Platforms Birmingham depot.

The 27-year-old from Tipton previously drove a 3.5 tonne van for a wholesale food distribution company and was keen to upgrade his skill base and secure his HGV licence, whilst still having secure employment and a regular income.

He’s now working on a yearlong HGV Class 1 apprenticeship through which he’ll not only gain a HGV licence, but will also learn how to load, unload and operate the company’s powered access machines that it delivers to clients all over the country.

He said: “The job is everything I hoped for – I’m able to care for my son whilst still having secure employment and a regular income. My mum has been amazing at assisting with childcare around school times, but it’s such a relief to have that certainty of when I’ll be home and provide that level of stability for my son.”

James Clarke, Head of Haulage for Nationwide Platforms said, “It’s fitting that the theme for apprenticeship week this year is Build the Future, as we’ve always viewed apprentices as the best way to secure talent for the future.

“Through our apprenticeship drive in 2021, we’ve been fortunate to take on 40 committed HGV apprentices who are doing excellent work already, and are looking into increasing that number in 2022.”

Rugby-based Custom heat ensures they take on three apprentices a year who will embark on a four-year course resulting in gaining an NVQ in plumbing.

24-year-old Beth Jenkins from Rugby had a complete career change after wanting to be a PE teacher.

William Simpson, Lincoln Smith, Beth Jenkins, Custom Heat

After embarking on an NVQ Level Two at Custom Heat she said: “I’ve learned more like in five months than I did in a year at college. It’s great being hands-on in the day and seeing people doing the job. It’s so different.”

Joining a male-dominated profession, Beth says plumbing has welcomed her with open arms.

“It’s been brilliant. There’s been no, oh, it’s a girl with us, or she’s not gonna be able to do what we do, they’ve all been amazing.”

William Simpson from Lutterworth will complete his NVQ Level 3 in plumbing and heating in conjunction with Leicester College in March.

He originally took a full-time college class in plumbing but found he wanted to push himself more and was advised to go into an apprenticeship

Throughout the pandemic, Custom Heat were the busiest they’d ever been, but apprentices had issues with colleges.

William said: “It’s not been hard to get the practical experience and my portfolio together. It’s college that has been more difficult because it’s been online and teachers missing lessons due to COVID.”

Lincoln Smith, the managing director of Custom Heat also said the biggest challenges were colleges and called on the government to incentivise lecturers.

He said: “We struggle a lot getting into colleges. Then one of our apprentices was being taught by a carpentry teacher.

“I believe if the colleges were more of a desirable place and a bit more consistent, we might find that the youngsters are a bit more engaged.”

With renewable energy sources being developed Smith said he hopes his apprentices lead the charge on having the skills to install new technology to heat homes and reduce energy prices.

Aspire Active Education Group Aspire have a host of National Apprenticeship Week action planned including advice guides from Nikki Clamp, Business Development and Project Manager at Aspire Training Solutions Ltd.

Clamp said: “As the economy recovers from the pandemic, we want to engage with the widest possible audiences about the benefits of apprenticeships both for the apprentices and for employers.

“Each year we see lives transformed for apprentices who report feeling more secure about their future because they have job stability, an employer commitment to them and a clear plan for their role and development.”

Birmingham-based Aspire has tripled its apprentice training levels in recent years, and its Training Solutions team deliver sustainable workforce development plans through apprenticeship training for 52 organisations, with 150 learners enrolled, up from 45 in 2019.

Lara Etches

Having excelled in her role of supporting educators in schools through the KickStart employment scheme, Lara Etches was offered the opportunity to do the Level 2 Community Activator Coach apprenticeship with Aspire.

“Doing an apprenticeship gives me the qualifications and work experience I need to set me on the career path of becoming a PE teacher,” she says.

“At the beginning of my apprenticeship, I was shadowing different educators which provided me with the experience to then go on to do my own lunch and after school clubs. Eventually, I would like to
go on to a Level 3 and possibly a teaching degree at university.”

Fellow apprentice Molly Shuttleworth added: “I 100% would recommend doing an apprenticeship. I think that it’s a great decision I’ve made for myself, so I think it would be for anyone else as well.”

Molly Shuttleworth

After graduating from university with a Sports Psychology degree, Molly joined Aspire through the Kickstart Scheme and has since started the Level 4 Sports Coach apprenticeship. She said: “The apprenticeship allows me to get the experience in a practical way, as well as really honing my understanding of the theories and putting them into practice in schools.”

Lord Combustion Services from Oldbury, serve more than 1000 customers from its base and apprentice Matthew Smith is alongside them.

He was named as a finalist for the H&V News Awards apprentice of the year due to his performance in 2021.

Joining as an apprentice in 2019, he has progressed from doing his apprenticeship to taking on a higher role within the company. He is now employed as a contracts engineer, working with colleagues throughout the business in serving clients across the West Midlands.

Smith said: “Having progressed in my career an apprenticeship I would recommend it to anyone looking to learn and earn while they work. I’ve picked up lots of new skills, backed with formal qualifications, and learned how to play my part in a company.

Matthew Smith

“I had always been interested in science and engineering and joined Lord on an apprenticeship, as part of which I have completed my HNC in building services engineering, as well as an NVQ in the same discipline. On the back of completing the apprenticeship, I have enrolled in my bachelor’s degree in building services engineering, which is a three-year course.

Lord says it is proud to see its apprentices progress within the company as Greg Jones was appointed to the board of directors last year, 10 years after joining as an apprentice.