Chesterfield’s apprenticeship training provider, Learning Unlimited, has seen a record increase in the number of apprenticeship applications this spring.

This month the apprenticeship specialist provider has been asked by regional and local employers to recruit on their behalf for more than 150 apprenticeship places – an increase of 40% on exactly the same time last year.

Learning Unlimited’s Operations Manager, Leah Shortt said: “At this time of year we normally begin to receive more enquiries from people potentially considering an apprenticeship as they prepare to finish school. This spring though we’ve also seen a rise in opportunities too as the employers we work with are planning to take on a new influx of apprentices over the summer.

“The figures show that the demand for apprenticeships keeps growing. More and more young people are interested in following that route rather than going on to university and more employers are also recognising the benefits of taking on an apprentice. They see it as a way of recruiting the new talent they need while shaping their workforce.”

The number of apprenticeships available has increased the most in business related roles. There is also demand for apprentices across other sectors ranging from engineering to IT and social media. Apprenticeship opportunities range from electricians, engineers, hairdressers, nursery assistants and social care assistants, to chef and automotive body technicians.

The team already has over 115 people booked in for registration and interview this month and will be holding an Advice Evening at Chesterfield College on Tuesday (16 April) between 5.30pm and 7.30pm for anyone interested in finding out more about apprenticeships. It will give potential apprentices the chance to talk about the opportunities available locally and regionally. It also gives people the chance to get advice about entry requirements and meet the team who will support them through their apprenticeship application.

Learning Unlimited will be joined at the Advice Evening by employer, Heathcotes Group; an organisation which works nationally to provide specialist residential care for adults with learning disabilities, mental health needs and challenging behaviours. During the evening  people will get the chance to talk face-to-face with the employer, who has recruited almost 600 apprentices over the past five years and is an Apprenticeship Ambassador for Chesterfield.

Learning Unlimited, which is part of the Chesterfield College group, currently provides apprenticeships and learning programmes to more than 3,000 apprentices nationally.

Apprenticeships are being put under the spotlight nationally from 4 – 8 March 2019, during the 12^th annual National Apprenticeship Week (NAW 2019).

Co-ordinated by the National Apprenticeship Service, NAW is designed to celebrate apprenticeships and the positive impact they have on individuals, businesses and the wider community.

Apprenticeships are key to Chesterfield’s growing economy, so much so the town became the first to declare itself an Apprentice Town.

Led by Chesterfield Borough Council the Apprentice Town initiative aims to raise awareness of apprenticeships and promote cooperative working across the education, business and learning community.

Councillor Tricia Gilby, Chesterfield Borough Council’s leader, said: “One of the council’s top priorities is improving the quality of life for local people and ensuring our residents have good employment and training opportunities is key to that. This is why we worked with our partners to establish Chesterfield as an Apprentice Town in 2017.”

In Chesterfield there are currently more than 50 apprenticeship vacancies in a wide range of sectors, including project management, animal care, IT, hospitality, childcare and auto care, being advertised by employers in the town.

In 2017 alone, 1120 apprenticeship starts were delivered. Almost half of the apprenticeships delivered were at Level 3 or above, including 100 Higher Level Apprenticeships. Initial figures for the first quarter of 2018/19 show an 14% increase in apprenticeship starts compared to the same quarter in 2017/18.

With more than 14,000 young people in Chesterfield and North Derbyshire set to leave school over the next five years, apprenticeships are at the top of the agenda for many businesses who are keen to attract the next generation.

Blaze a Trail’ is the theme for this year’s NAW. There are thousands of young people already using apprenticeships right now to blaze a trail in their careers in businesses in Chesterfield and North Derbyshire.

Here are just some of them:

Name: Jack Charlesworth

Age: 22

Employer: Capgemini

Apprenticeship: Degree Apprenticeship in Leadership and Management

Jack’s advice: “If there’s something you want to do for a career, have a look and see if there’s an apprenticeship that could be linked to that career. No matter how weird or wacky it is, you might be able to find an apprenticeship that can help you get onto the right route.”

Prior to joining Capgemini, Jack completed his A Levels in IT, Business Studies and Economics. The fact a degree apprenticeship eliminates university fees and gave him the opportunity to earn while he learned, meant Jack decided that it was time to get working.

He commented on his decision: “I’d learnt so much already at school but not put anything into practice. I really didn’t want to go on to university to take on a load more skills and have nowhere to apply them, so an apprenticeship was definitely the right route for me.

“When I first joined Capgemini and it was all completely fresh to me. I received the support I needed to really kickstart my career. Since then, I have gained experience in being a project manager and feel like I am seen as a normal part of the workforce. I’d love to progress with the company and gain more responsibilities going forward.”

Name: Joshua Bown

Age: 17

Employer: Learning Unlimited, Chesterfield College

Apprenticeship: Level 2 Business Administration

Joshua’s advice: “Look forwards and work your way backwards to see if an apprenticeship aligns with what you want to do.”

Before starting his apprenticeship at Chesterfield College, Josh was studying Travel and Tourism full-time at college. However, he was ready to get hands on and start to apply the skills he’d learned, so turned to an apprenticeship.

He said: “It’s been a huge positive change in my life moving onto an apprenticeship. Not only am I still learning, but the work experience is benefitting me massively and the wage I’m earning has allowed me to become a lot more independent.”

Josh has really enjoyed being part of a team and working with people and hopes that he can pursue that area of his apprenticeship going forward: “I’ve found my passion in interacting with people, whether that be a colleague or with people enquiring about apprenticeships at the college, and that’s definitely something I want to be incorporated in my job for the foreseeable future.”

Name: Maddie Cornwell

Age: 19

Employer: JP Ward & Associates

Apprenticeship: Level 3 Dental Nurse

Maddie’s advice: “Once you’ve found what you want to do, you should apply to as many places as possible. That way, you’re going to give yourself the best opportunity to find the right apprenticeship for you.”

Maddie previously completed her A Levels in Health and Social Care, Psychology and Business Studies, but she always knew that university wasn’t for her. After encouragement and support from her mum to apply for apprenticeships, she found one at JP Ward & Associates as an Apprentice Dental Nurse.

Maddie, who currently spends most of her days assisting in surgery, said: “I’m really enjoying my apprenticeship so far and I definitely prefer the practical learning environment to the one I experienced during my A Levels. It reinforces what I’m learning when I’m able to actually put it into practice on a day-to-day basis.

“I’ve always been interested in working in the medical sector, so I’m really excited to see where this apprenticeship will lead in the future.”

Name: Liam Richardson

Age: 22

Employer: Chesterfield Borough Council

Apprenticeship: Apprentice Bricklayer

Liam’s advice: “Never give up. You could apply for 20 apprenticeships and they could all say no, but there could be that one apprenticeship out there that is waiting for someone to come and take that opportunity.”

Prior to starting his bricklaying apprenticeship with Chesterfield Borough Council, Liam worked in a number of sectors including driving and retail. When he was 22 years old, keen to start a career that gave him long-term prospects, Liam entered into an apprenticeship.

He commented: “I’ve done a bit of everything such as driving and working in retail, but I really wanted something that I could potentially look at doing for the rest of my life. With me being a bit older I didn’t know if it was too late for me to do an apprenticeship, but I’ve been able to drop back into learning, getting qualifications whilst still earning a wage.”

Liam has used an apprenticeship to change careers. The accompanying wage has enabled him to retain his independence. He hopes to progress through his apprenticeships and is looking forward to seeing what the future holds.

If you’re interested in starting an apprenticeship, discover more here https://www.chesterfield.co.uk/apprenticeships/ )

‘Ditch the jargon if you want to attract school leavers to apply for apprenticeships’ – that was the advice to businesses from education leaders.

The message was delivered at the annual Chesterfield and North Derbyshire Employability and Skills Conference where it was revealed that young people aged under 19 accounted for only a quarter of all apprenticeship starts in the UK.

With more than 14,000 young people in Chesterfield and North Derbyshire set to leave school over the next five years, the conference looked to address the barriers to apprenticeships. It brought together business leaders and representatives from the education sector as well as pupils from years 11 – 13 from schools in the region.

Speaking at the conference, Dr Emma Dando (right), Careers Lead at St Mary’s Catholic School in Chesterfield, said: “The simple fact is that it is easier to make a college and university application. Many 15 – 18-year-olds are put off applying for apprenticeships because they don’t understand the terminology that many companies use in their job adverts. They feel intimated.”

She advised that employers could learn from politicians when writing job adverts for apprenticeship vacancies. “Persuasive language is key,” added Dr Dando. “Young people are keen to know about progression routes, how formal learning fits into the job role and what a typical day will look like.”

Dr Dando also advised employers to consider including information about the catering facilities in the workplace, public transport links, parking and the environment they’ll be working in within job adverts.

“These are all important factors for a young person who has very little or no experience of a workplace environment. Failure to include this information in job adverts could put them off applying.”

Organised by Chesterfield Borough Council, Gail Widerman of Placing Futures, D2N2 Enterprise Advisor Network and Destination Chesterfield, almost 100 people attended the annual conference which was held at Ringwood Hall Hotel & Spa on Wednesday 13 February.

In addition to St Mary’s Catholic High School, speakers at the sell-out event included representatives from Capgemini, Brookfield School and Brendan Kelly, Managing Director of Heathcotes Group.

Speaking at the event Mr Kelly credited the introduction of the Apprentice Levy with helping the business nearly double apprentice starts over the last five years. Since 2013 the Heathcotes Group has recruited 568 apprentices.

He commented: “Attracting the next generation of talented and dedicated care professionals requires us to connect and engage on an emotional level, rather than get preoccupied with technical detail and lose the essence of who we are and what we do.”

“In recent years we have promoted an accessible and inspirational message, based on the fact that our work is enormously fulfilling because it makes a difference to the lives of some of the most vulnerable people in society. It has certainly proved to be more effective than more traditional and formulaic approaches to recruitment.”

“Based on our experience in recruitment and apprenticeships, the young workforce is less concerned with specifics – they respond better to a broader perception of employers that support their career progression, invest in their future and celebrate the value of the work they do.”

Supporting businesses in their apprentice recruitment efforts, in 2018 Chesterfield became the first town in the UK to declare itself an ‘Apprentice Town’.

Led by Chesterfield Borough Council, the Apprentice Town initiative aims to raise awareness of apprenticeships and promote cooperative working across the education, business and learning community.

Councillor Tricia Gilby, Chesterfield Borough Council’s leader, said: “One of the council’s top priorities is improving the quality of life for local people and ensuring our residents have good employment and training opportunities is key to that.”

“This is why we worked with our partners to establish Chesterfield as an Apprentice Town in 2017.”

“This year’s conference has brought together partners from local businesses and education providers and, working together, we will continue to provide new opportunities to develop our future workforce.”

Local businesses or skills providers interested in getting involved with the Apprentice Town initiative should email emily.williams@chesterfield.gov.uk