Week celebrates the positive impact of apprentices

Posted on by karen.smith

National Apprenticeship Week in Wales from March 3-7 is an opportunity to celebrate Apprenticeships and the positive impact they have on individuals, businesses and the wider economy.

Now in its seventh year, Apprenticeship Week is designed to raise the profile of Apprenticeships, which provide a chance to earn while you learn, amongst employers, individuals, teachers, parents and the media.

During the week, Apprenticeship providers across Wales will be on a mission to demonstrate that Apprenticeships are great for businesses, personal careers and creating opportunities for both employers and apprentices.

Objectives are to increase awareness, understanding and demand for Apprenticeships, celebrate Apprenticeship talent, skills, achievements and successes and promote all Apprenticeship levels and progression routes, including traineeships.

A key target is to engage and persuade more businesses of the advantages of employing and supporting apprentices in their workplace. That’s why employers are being encouraged to attend an interactive breakfast event at The Vale Resort, Hensol on March 6.

Themed ‘It’s Time to Talk Apprenticeships’, this free event is organised by the Welsh Government in partnership with the National Training Federation Wales (NTfW) and Pearson Work Based Learning. Sponsors are Pearson, Media Wales and Leadership and Management Wales.

Event host is BBC Wales newsreader Jamie Owen and speakers include Deputy Minister for Skills and Technology Ken Skates, NTfW chief executive Arwyn Watkins, HR leader Chris Doherty and apprentice Katie Babbington from GE Aviation Wales, Nantgarw and joint owner Janine O’Callaghan and apprentice Lauren Rees from Spirit Hair Team, Ystrad Mynach.

Employers and training providers wishing to attend should contact NTfW communications manager Karen Smith at karen.smith@ntfw.org or Tel: 02920 495861.

Arwyn Watkins, Chief Executive NTfW

Mr Watkins said: “The aim of this event is to bring together all the key stakeholders involved in the delivery of Apprenticeships in Wales, with a view to raising awareness of their value to business and the wider economy. We hope that it will motivate more employers to become fully engaged in the Apprenticeship programme.”

The event also sees the launch of Apprenticeship Awards Cymru 2014, which recognise and reward best practice in the use of Apprenticeships for learners, employers and providers. Application forms will be available to download from March 6 on the NTfW website The high profile awards ceremony will be held at the Celtic Manor Resort, Newport on October 31.

The Welsh Government has made a big investment in Apprenticeships as a practical and cost-effective way to build a skilled workforce, address skills shortages and, ultimately, strengthen the economy of Wales.

Organisations across Wales are being encouraged to improve their business performance by hiring an apprentice. This task is made easier by the Apprenticeship Matching Service, which does what it says – match potential apprentices with Welsh employers.

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