This week Stratford-upon-Avon College is taking part in National Apprenticeship Week, a week long celebration of the talents and skills of apprentices.
Apprenticeship Week runs from Monday 1st February to Friday 5th February and is organised by the National Apprenticeship Service (NAS). The week aims to raise the profile of the apprentice in the workplace, highlight their benefits to employers and celebrate their achievements.
On Monday, apprentices from the college will be compiling a video diary at the Birmingham Hippodrome where they work. The diary will highlight the variety of work they do and will give future students a real taste of life as an apprentice. These students are studying an apprenticeship in Cultural and Heritage Venue Operations, one of the new creative apprenticeships designed to meet the skills and future workforce development needs of the creative and cultural sectors.
On Tuesday, Ian Austin MP will be visiting the Birmingham Hippodrome to meet with these apprentices and they will be giving him a ‘hands on’ flavour of the work they do there. Ian Austin, whose constituency is in Dudley North, is currently the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Communities and Local Government.
Martin Penny, principal, commented, “Stratford-upon-Avon College has been successfully delivering apprenticeships for a number of years across a range of vocational areas. Apprentices gain nationally recognised qualifications, learn industry-relevant skills and get hands-on experience in the workplace, whilst earning at the same time!
“Many local businesses have and will continue to benefit from our Apprenticeships scheme especially during these difficult economic times. We are delighted to be involved in Apprenticeship Week - our apprentices are a vital part of our local community.”
Stratford Business Services, the business and training division of the college, offers a range of work-based learning opportunities for young people across a number of specialist areas. An apprenticeship normally takes up to two years to complete and individuals can therefore be employed in their chosen occupational area, whilst continuing their education at college. On successful completion of an apprenticeship, a level 2 qualification and technical certificate are rewarded. Individuals can then progress on to an advanced apprenticeship which is a further two years and leads to a level 3 qualification.
For more information on the apprenticeship opportunities at Stratford Business Services visit www.sbs.stratford.ac.uk| or call 01789 261123.
For more information, please contact Marketing on 01789 266245 or email marketing@stratford.ac.uk|.
Posted at 07:27:00 on 31st January 2010