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National Apprenticeship Week - case studies

Running from the 5th-9th March 2018, National Apprenticeship Week 2018 (NAW 2018) brings together employers and apprentices from across England to celebrate the success of apprenticeships. BSRIA have some exciting schemes that fit under this umbrella.

The theme of NAW 2018 is 'Apprenticeships Work' and showcases how apprenticeships work for individuals, employers, local communities and the wider economy.

BSRIA specifically offers engineering career routes and paths suitable for individual aspirations. This may involve having a 3-4 months’ placement in BSRIA business units, prior to making a decision on preferred specialisation route.

It is essential to remember that those who want to join the engineering industry can benefit greatly from this initiative as an apprenticeship offers a structured and more accessible opportunity for many. With courses funded by the government and the employer, apprentices earn while gaining valuable skills and profession. And a current apprenticeship framework offers a variety of qualifications including degree apprenticeships and even MBA-level apprenticeships.

Working with the Lancashire LEP, Lancashire Skills Hub, National Careers Service and other local education networks, BSRIA North is engaging with the Enterprise Adviser Network. The network is designed to match strategic leaders to schools and colleges across Lancashire and to work with the school’s leadership team to develop their approach to careers and enterprise and ultimately increase the number of employer encounters that young people experience throughout the education journey.

June Davis, BSRIA North Business Manager, who has become an Enterprise Adviser, said:

“BSRIA is delighted to be supporting National Apprenticeship Week with these fantastic, relevant activities and initiatives. We support this initiative in a number of ways by hiring and training apprentices, engaging with young people, schools and wider community.

With the housing industry set to receive £44bn in financial incentives to increase supply to 300,000 new homes a year by the mid-2020s, the biggest annual increase in housing supply since 1970, construction and engineering apprentices are crucial.

Apprenticeships attract diverse talent and ensure industry is future proofed. They can deliver improved productivity, employee retention and bring new ideas and ways of working into the workplace.

BSRIA is actively and proactively engaging with the community to promote this opportunity to young people. We engage with local schools offering work placements and one day work shops for schools. With construction nominated as one of Lancashire’s priority sectors it should provide good business networking opportunities too.”

BSRIA’s Stacey Ward spoke about his journey at BSRIA as an apprentice. Stacey joined BSRIA as a junior apprentice and is currently undertaking a Chartered Management Degree Apprenticeship with the Open University which is fully funded by BSRIA.

Stacey is now Instrument Sales Manager – BSRIA Instrument Solutions – heading up a team of nine. Stacey said:

“Apprenticeships are especially essential for up-and-coming engineers to get into the workplace: we hope this week can highlight the importance of such crucial careers and trades. I am a recent real example of how apprentices can start, thrive and flourish fast in an organistion! There is clearly a spectrum of opportunities for apprentices and when all the necessary stars align – it is a great path to follow.”

The spirit of NAW 2018 fits in well with BSRIA’s INSPIRE project which is working with local schools, national and local politicians and the media to promote STEM and change its perceptions. In the summer of 2017, BSRIA continued its tradition of building and sharing knowledge by recruiting a 21-year old summer placement intern to give her experience in the professional workplace and undertake a perceptive report, Inspiring Tomorrow's Engineers – which considers engineering careers over a wide selection of industries.

BSRIA is delighted to be celebrating the 2018 Year of Engineering and will be running a series of events and careers days with local schools and colleges. This national campaign is designed to increase awareness and understanding of what engineers do among young people aged seven to 16, their parents and teachers.

This article was originally published here by BSRIA in March 2018.

--BSRIA