National Apprenticeship Week 2011 Wednesday, February 9, 2011 - 17:48

NIACE is among the organisations supporting Catherine McKinnell MP's Apprenticeships and Skills (Public Procurement Contracts) Bill - which received its second reading in Parliament on Friday 11 February. In an article for Adults Learning - Small change, big difference - McKinnell wrote:

"Over the last few months I have met with representatives from NIACE as well as a range of other organisations in the education field; time and time again, I hear that the main obstacle to increasing the numbers of apprenticeships available is getting employers to ‘buy in' to the idea of making that small change within their business to bring about a big difference in their organisation and the lives of so many people. I am hopeful my Apprenticeships Bill might be just what is needed to make this happen."

For its 20th Adult Learners' Week (14-20 May 2011), NIACE also launched it's first ever Apprentice of the Year Award - sponsored by Pearson Work Based Learning - to showcase the positive effect that adult apprenticeships have on both individuals and their employers.

Carol Taylor, NIACE Director of Operations, said:

"Good apprenticeships can provide adults with specific technical competencies, a broad range of vocational skills and enhanced employability skills. They significantly increase the likelihood of engagement in further learning and develop a sense of pride about the skills acquired. They may not be the answer for all adults, but they are a significant part of the mix offering employers engaged and willing employees, ready for new challenges."

During National Apprenticeship Week 2011 (7- 11 February), NIACE illustrated how giving people the opportunity to learn through apprenticeships can completely transform their lives and the businesses they are working for, through the stories of previous Adult Learners' Week award winners:

After leaving school Sarah Arden enrolled in an NVQ in business administration. She soon realised that office work was not for her and she enrolled in another programme that set her on track to join a profession that she loves.

"As my dad is a builder, I have been brought up on sites all my life and I wanted to learn a trade. I chose to train as an electrician as I knew it would be a challenge."

Sarah, 23, enrolled at a local college and completed her first year of study before applying for an advanced apprenticeship so that she could further her education and skills.

"Bloom and Wake Electrical Ltd accepted me and I have since learnt the fundamental essentials of the electrical profession."

Jon Honeyfield, relocated to Sheffield aged 32, seeing it as a chance to reassess his life, gain qualifications and find a rewarding career. Whilst unemployed in his new hometown, he completed a C&G certificate in Basic Plumbing and was subsequently offered an apprenticeship with Kier Sheffield as a heating engineer.

Jon showed a real hunger for learning when he began his apprenticeship and completed an NVQ Level 2 in Mechanical Engineering Services in just 6 months. He has since completed his level 3 and ACS commercial qualification along with his ACS Domestic Gas qualification and is now fully qualified.

Andrew, Jon's nominator, said:

"Learning has been directly instrumental in accelerating his career progress, earning him a place as a member of a highly skilled team and bringing job satisfaction - a significant achievement for someone who less than four years ago was unemployed with only a few basic qualifications."

Jon said:

"[Learning] has given me a trade and the ability to earn a fairly good living. It has given me more confidence in my own abilities and made me realise you are never too old to learn."