Association of Apprentices’ Post

The Association of Apprentices Big Apprentice Survey 2024 is released today. https://lnkd.in/eKv8nPA8 It finds that only 28% of apprentices aged 16-17 and 21% of those aged 18-24 believe they would be working in their current industry without their apprenticeship. This really carries home the opportunities apprenticeships bring for young people. We want to see the Growth and Skills Levy support a wider apprenticeships system and unlock more of these opportunities. https://lnkd.in/efgYe2ui

Want to understand an apprentice's journey through a Registered Apprenticeship Program? The Apprentice Journey framework supports partners in the apprenticeship ecosystem to take a deeper look at the path individuals travel to participate in apprenticeship so they can identify potential barriers and develop policies and practices that can help diverse applicants to move forward and support apprentice success. Check out the framework now for examples of critical questions sponsors can reflect on to improve access and entry into their programs. #NAW2024_AIR #NAW2024 https://lnkd.in/gK7GTnct

🚀 90% of the UK’s SMEs believe apprenticeships are at least partly the solution to the UK's skills gap crisis. 🚀 96% of employers with apprentices have experienced at least one benefit from taking on apprentices, and most can count at least eight benefits. 🚀 74% of employers say that apprentices improved products or service quality. 🚀 78% say that they improved productivity 🚀 73% say that staff morale is improved by having apprentices. 🙁 Yet, 47% feel not enough is being done to encourage young people to consider apprenticeships. ❓ If they're right, how do we bring these numbers together? ❓ What more do businesses and/or the government need to do to increase awareness of apprenticeships and their positive impact? #Apprenticeships #BusinessGrowth #SkillsGap

We know that support for apprentices can make a significant impact on their outcomes – yet, there is disparity amongst the support apprentices can access and this affects how they do, not only on their apprenticeship but beyond. Our mission at the Association of Apprentices is to right this and improve outcomes for all apprentices. 🔊 Our annual insight report showcases how we make this happen. And some major things here in terms of journey to parity: ⭐ Our members working in SMEs has increased from 14% to 24% ⭐ Over half of our members come from more deprived areas ⭐ We have launched the Post-Apprenticeship Recognition Scheme (PARS), a brand-new awards scheme, that in partnership with the The Chartered Institution for Further Education, sees completed apprentices recognised for the skills they have gained during their apprenticeship with an award and the right to use post nominals. A huge thank you to the organisations who partner with us to help reach more apprentices in the UK, and to the AoA team and all our members, including the brilliant Apprentice Council. You can access the report here https://lnkd.in/d8srjJs8 #apprentices #apprenticeships #apprenticeinsight 

🎉 National Apprenticeship Awards 2024: Quick Guide 🎉 Get ready for the National Apprenticeship Awards 2024! Here’s a quick overview of the three key categories: 👩🎓 Apprentice Category Entry Requirements: 📅 Currently undertaking or completed a qualification since June 1, 2023. 🏆 Awards for Levels 2 to 6+. What Judges Want: 🏅 Achievements, contributions, and impact within the organisation. ✍️ Complete applications in plain English (without jargon). Reach out for help from employers and educators if needed. 🏢 Employer Category Entry Requirements: 🌐 Open to all sectors, celebrating commitment and success in apprenticeships. 📏 Two categories for different organisation sizes. What Judges Want: 🌟 Exemplary apprenticeship programs benefiting the organisation and apprentices. 📊 Use quotes, stats, and data to stand out. 🌟 Rising Star Category Entry Requirements: 📅 Currently undertaking or completed an apprenticeship since June 1, 2022. What Judges Want: 🚀 Proactive apprentices making a significant impact. 📋 Employers can nominate multiple apprentices (one application per nominee). Let's celebrate apprenticeships! 🚀🎉 Follow this link to apply now:

Latest from FE News: UCAS could be the key to Unlocking Apprenticeships: Apprenticeship courses have been underappreciated for too long, and we need them to tackle the widening skills gap. To elevate the courses and boost apprenticeship… UCAS could be the key to Unlocking Apprenticeships was published on FE News by Haman Manak #SkillsandApprenticeshipsNewsandInsights Read more here:

What do Britons think about apprenticeships? ✅ Positive about prospects ❓ Sceptical about salaries Those were the findings of the Ipsos #nationalapprenticeweek survey on #apprenticeships earlier this year. From us, if apprentices are to be the key to bridging skills gaps in vital industries, those enticing them will need the finances to match the rhetoric. However, outside of salary, work to put apprenticeships on a level footing with degrees, improved apprenticeship delivery, and diverse apprenticeship options up to Level 7 are having a positive impact on society's view of apprenticeships. What do you think? Read the full findings of the Ipsos report here and let us know your thoughts ➡️ https://bit.ly/3W6xTSZ

Did anyone else use their winter break to catch up on reading industry news?  My leisure reading was filled with news of the growing popularity of apprenticeships.  Previously synonymous with on-the-job learning of a trade, apprenticeships are becoming a well-known and widely embraced path to a career.  Organizations like CareerWise USA are even helping apprenticeships expand into white-collar jobs. Related instruction plus on-the-job training has become a common pathway into education, finance, and health care - just to name a few non-industrial careers. Annoyingly, one phrase that reappeared in much of my reading about apprenticeship was “an alternative to college.”  Can we really say that apprenticeship is an alternative to college? Yes, apprenticeships ditch the learn-then-earn model for an earn-and-learn process; making them an equitable path for students who need to bring in an income while pursuing studies.  The coursework, hand-picked by employers, often feels more relevant to the job and more digestible to participants. So, on the surface, an apprentice’s experience is different from a college student's. However, the classroom portion of an apprenticeship can easily land an individual on a college campus.  I would argue that the highest quality apprenticeships have related instruction that either earns the apprentice a degree or has classes that can be applied toward a degree.  The course content is equally rigorous to that of a traditional college program.  In fact, many apprenticeship programs have entrance tests to ensure participants are suited for the academic demand. So here are my three pro-tips related to apprenticeships for those of you helping young adults launch into the world of work: + Use resources like Apprenticeship.gov or your state apprenticeship office to find local sponsors (the businesses that hire apprentices).  This will get you directly to the source of knowledge for what a person should expect from the classroom side of an apprenticeship in their career of interest. + Connect with local technical/community colleges which often have defined apprenticeship programs that connect students with local employer sponsors.  These college representatives can also give you a clear understanding of the education requirements for the role. + For students who aren’t emotionally ready to continue their education, help them find employers with internal training programs and/or education benefits.  This way there are resources and incentives for continuing education when they are ready. Apprenticeships are an alternate path into the world of work, but I think it's time we stop referring to them as an alternative to college.

ICYMI: Latest from FE News: Event: Seamlessly integrating degree assessment and end-point assessment for apprenticeships: Now more than ever, degree assessment and end-point assessment are becoming increasingly integrated for degree apprenticeship standards.  But how can universities do this well? How… Seamlessly integrating degree assessment and end-point assessment for apprenticeships was published on FE News by Strategic Development Network (SDN) Read more here:

We are set to support small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) employers to access the transformational power of apprenticeships through the offer of a Levy Gift. Without a Levy Gift, non-levy paying employers are normally required to pay a 5% contribution towards the costs of an apprenticeship, but our Levy Gift means there will be zero cost to the SME, with the government paying the remaining 95%. We offer a range of apprenticeships from Level 4 (equivalent to the first year of an undergraduate degree) through to Level 7 (master’s level), spanning a wide range of sectors and job roles including health, construction, management, engineering and education. Aidan Friend, CEO of Better Futures Apprenticeships at Coventry University, said: "We hope that removing this financial barrier will support more SMEs to access vital skills training for their workforce. "Apprenticeships allow people to earn while they learn and Coventry University is proud to be able to offer this opportunity to not only the businesses but also those who begin their apprenticeship journey." Find out more: https://bit.ly/3AwWQPD #CovBusiness #Apprenticeships