Three months on from the start of the 100 in 100 apprenticeship campaign and Exeter College, along with the partnership of local providers, National Apprenticeship Service and the Express and Echo as media partner, are taking stock of the success of this unique initiative. Success is not just for the partnership, but for the local employers who, despite the current economic climate, and in some cases because of it, have pledged to support and train the young workforce.

Richard Atkins, Exeter College Principal, in reviewing the campaign outcomes said, “I’m delighted that the campaign has proved such a success. As a partnership the campaign has appealed to a wide range of industry and business sectors across across Devon, Exeter and Torbay encouraging over 150 employers to see the value of apprenticeships to their particular business. Over 50 of these employers have pledged to work with the college to provide the industry training to help the next generation of technical professionals.”

With over eighteen apprenticeship frameworks on offer the college supports employers in a whole range of sectors, from hospitality and catering, engineering, construction, hairdressing to IT. Employers from across the region range from SHB 4×4 car hire to East Devon IT web and telecom specialists; from The Beer Engine to The Salty Monk pub and restaurants; from Teignmouth Community College to E.J.W Glendinnings aggregate suppliers – all making the pledge to support the campaign and seeing the value of taking on an apprentice.

“It’s great to see the profile of apprenticeships being raised through the 100 in 100 campaign and we are proud to be involved” said Mark Passmore, Passmore Carpenters, who is keen to increase his small business capacity.
Jane Boulton from Axminster Power Tools was one of the first to sign up to the campaigns saying “The scheme brings huge benefits not only to the business in helping it to avoid future skill gaps but also to young people seeking rewarding careers with progression pathways – a ‘win win’ situation for all those involved”

The success of apprenticeships is clear in the results it brings for both employers and learners. And the success is not just seen in business outcomes. Exeter College prides itself on local and regional accolades – another way of ensuring its training is tested against the best – and has recently been delighted that one of its own employer partners and one of its apprentices have won national acclaim.

Bishopsteignton Primary School, who works with the College training their teaching assistant apprentices, was recently highly commended at the Regional Finals of the National Apprenticeship Awards. The school have trained three apprentices over the last five years and currently have two trainees working for them. The head teacher, Louise Prywata, has effectively used the apprenticeship scheme to train the next generation of teaching assistants and clearly endorses the results that the apprenticeship scheme can bring:

“Young, enthusiastic and hard working apprentices can offer so much to a business. If apprentices are inspired and keen to make a difference, then we should be giving them the opportunity to do so. You can hire attitude and then train skill. Employing a young inexperienced person can place unplanned demands on an employer, but they are overshadowed by the rewards they can deliver.”

Young people also clearly benefit in that they are able to develop their skills directly on the job from fully skilled professionals.
Tony Litchfield, one of the College’s vehicle refinishing apprentices, has seen his own apprentice success win national and hopefully international fame having recently made it to the World Skills Final in London following his success in the regional heat. Going on to represent the UK competing against other students from all over the world, this success is a testament to his hard work and the support of his employer Kynaston Autobodies.

Tony, said “I have learnt a lot from people at the garage who have been doing this for a while and Exeter College, where my tutor Nathan Weston has a background in the trade.”

As the successful campaign closes the college has clear evidence of the benefits of apprenticeships. Training a young person in the workplace from the age of sixteen helps to build their confidence and boost their motivation and at the end of two or three years there is a real opportunity for them to develop a successful career in their chosen vocation. The support of employers is crucial to this success.

“The 100 in 100 campaign has offered a perfect springboard to raise the profile of apprenticeships in Exeter and the region,” said Paul Champion head of business solutions at the College “and is a testament to what can be achieved. As ever though, we still need more employers to take on young people as at the College alone we have over 200 eager young people who want to be an apprentice but can’t find an employer.” His message is clear. “If you are keen to train the next generation and would benefit from an extra pair of hands then give us a call now”!

Picture courtesy of William Sykes of Sykes Imaging
Caption left to right
Iain Hatt, Assistant Principal Exeter College; Louise Prywata, head teacher Bishopsteignton Primary School; Katherine Coates and Susan Bright, Exeter College; Simon Waugh, National Apprenticeship Service