Issue Eight I February 2025
Welcome to our National Apprenticeship Week edition of Engage
National Apprenticeship Week is a fantastic opportunity to highlight the positive impact apprenticeships make to people, businesses and the wider economy.
Apprenticeships offer a route for businesses like yourselves to harness new talent and a fresh perspective, providing you with a workforce that has the practical skills and qualifications you need today and in the future.
On a local and national scale, apprenticeships are key to meeting skills priorities and that is why we are continuously evolving and growing our apprenticeship offer to include innovative programmes which meet the needs of our economy. In response to the ever-increasing demand for digital skills, we will be introducing brand-new digital skills apprenticeship programmes in 2025 which will ensure learners are able to embrace the digital world.
Work is well underway to develop three new Degree Apprenticeships in Engineering, enabling apprentices to gain the skills to manage large-scale projects, integrate cutting-edge technologies and foster innovation.
Apprentices are also set to benefit from an 18% pay boost in April 2025, with the minimum hourly wage rising from £6.40 to £7.55 an hour. Based on this and the increased uptake in higher and degree-level apprenticeships, they are increasingly becoming the most popular training option for those wanting to gain in-demand skills that will guarantee them successful careers in their chosen industries.
You will be able to hear from a number of our apprentices in this edition, including those who have been shortlisted for our Annual Apprenticeship Awards which will take place during National Apprenticeship Week.
I also hope to see our employer partners and individuals at our Employer Breakfast during the week, which you can read more about on page 2.
Chris Baker, Group Director of Apprenticeships, Heart of Yorkshire Education Group
National Apprenticeship Week 2025
There’s lots to shout about this National Apprenticeship Week, with a range of activities going on across our three campuses to raise awareness of apprenticeships and how they can transform lives.
Learn more about Apprenticeships at our Open Events...
We will be hosting apprenticeship-themed Open Events at our three Colleges during the week. Attendees will be able to find out more about the wide range of apprenticeships the Group offers, what the benefits of studying an apprenticeship are and hear from the Group’s current and former apprentices.
Attendees will also be able to explore the Group’s state-ofthe-art campuses, as well as chat to tutors and assessors in their chosen areas.
Join us at our
Employer Breakfast!
As part of our National Apprenticeship Week celebrations, we are hosting an Employer Breakfast on Tuesday 11th February at The Education Exchange in Knottingley, from 8am until 9:30am.
The theme of this year’s Employer Breakfast is Digital, and attendees will hear from employers and the Heart of Yorkshire Education Group about how they have embraced the digital world and integrated it into their businesses. Attendees will also be able to network over a free breakfast!
Register your place using the QR Code:
The Apprenticeships Team will be delivering talks during the events, which will take place on:
+ Monday 10th February 2025, 5pm-7pm Selby College
+ Wednesday 12th February 2025, 5pm-7pm Castleford College and Wakefield College
Register for an Open Event, at: www.heartofyorkshire.ac.uk/news-events
Check out our social media channels during NAW
In addition to our in-person events, we will also be sharing the incredible opportunities apprenticeships can unlock across our social media channels.
Hear from our apprentices about their journeys, as well as how our employer partners are benefitting from offering apprenticeships.
T Level Thursday will also take place during National Apprenticeship Week and we’re looking forward to acknowledging the achievements of our T Level students. With new T Level subjects on offer and many of our original T Level students successfully progressing on to apprenticeship programmes, there’s a lot to celebrate!
Celebrating success in Apprenticeships
We will be celebrating the exceptional achievements of the Group’s apprentices and the contributions of our employer partners to apprenticeship programmes at our Annual Apprenticeship Awards 2025.
The event will take place in the Reading Room in the Beaumont Building at Wakefield College on Thursday 13th February, from 6pm until 9pm.
THANK YOU to our 2025 Award Sponsors
Well done to all our Finalists:
Business, Enterprise & Professional Apprentice of the Year
+ Adele Hopkins
+ Alex Wells
+ Hayleigh Benn
+ Holly Ambler
Construction Apprentice of the Year (sponsored by West Yorkshire Windows)
+ Corey Maiden
+ Harvey Cassidy
+ Paddy Saul
Engineering & Automotive Apprentice of the Year
+ Jacob Hargreaves
+ Josh Curtis
+ Morgan Straw
Health & Education Apprentice of the Year
+ Benjamin Kaye
+ Natallia Buben
+ Safrana Musa
Large Employer of the Year
+ Ken Mallinson & Sons
+ Mpac Group
+ Schneider Electric Global
Small to Medium Employer of the Year (sponsored by Sigma)
+ Box123
+ Econ Electrical
+ Crompton Controls
+ Nicholson Dental Surgery
New Apprenticeship Employer of the Year (sponsored by Drax)
+ Van OS Medical
+ JBC Industrial Services
+ Omexom UK
The winners will be revealed on our website and across our social media channels on Friday 14th February 2025.
Meet some of our Apprenticeship Award nominees
JBC Industrial Services
Holly
We caught up with some of our current and former apprentices ahead of National Apprenticeship Week to hear how they’re benefitting from doing an apprenticeship.
Level 2 Warehouse Operative apprentice and Level 3 Business Admin apprentice
Finalist for the Business, Enterprise & Professional Apprentice of the Year Award
“The key things that I’ve learnt from my apprenticeship are personal skills and professionalism. My confidence has come on leaps and bounds and I’ve learned how to adjust myself to different situations. I’ve also gained a lot of digital skills that I didn’t have before through doing my college assignments, such as Microsoft Excel and working with different formulas.”
Finalist for the New Apprenticeship Employer of the Year Award (sponsored by Drax)
Kate Beard, Head of Recruitment, People and Culture at JBC Industrial Services (pictured on the right) said:
“It feels amazing to be shortlisted for the New Apprenticeship Employer of the Year Award. We’re really passionate about developing our employees and supporting their career moves, so we’re incredibly proud of our organisation. Taking on apprentices has enabled our more experienced engineers to share their experience and knowledge and become coaches, supporting young people coming through the industry.”
Corey
Level 3 Gas Engineering apprentice
Finalist for the Construction Apprentice of the Year Award (sponsored by West Yorkshire Windows)
“I’m over the moon to have been nominated for the Construction Apprentice of the Year Award. I chose to do an apprenticeship because I’ve always wanted to have a trade and I felt that earning whilst I learned was the best way forward for me personally, and I’ve never looked back. Everyday I’m learning from my mentors who are passing on their vast knowledge and experience of the industry.”
It’s an incredibly exciting time to be in the Engineering industry…
David White, Head of Regional Partnerships and Projects at the Heart of Yorkshire Education Group
With the rise of increased automation, net-zero considerations and the introduction of Industry 4.0, the landscape of the engineering sector is rapidly evolving.
The advent of the industrial revolution, characterised by the fusion of digital, physical and biological systems, requires engineers who are proficient in artificial intelligence, machine learning and data analytics. These engineers must also have the higher-technical skills, advanced technical abilities, leadership and strategic thinking needed to tackle complex engineering challenges.
There is no doubt that engineering is the backbone of the Yorkshire and Humber’s economy, driving forward innovation, productivity and global competitiveness. However, to ensure the region maintains and enhances its position as a leader in Engineering, it’s important that businesses have a workforce with the higher-technical skills to continue to propel innovation and efficiency in the sector.
According to the Humber Local Enterprise Partnership, 45% of engineering employers have expressed concerns over the lack of advanced technical skills among graduates. This not only hampers immediate project delivery but also stifles long-term innovation potential.
That is why we are developing a range of degree-level apprenticeship standards in engineering which address core areas such as Electrical Support, Product Design and Development and Manufacturing. These programmes aim to provide learners with the skills they need to excel in engineering, managing large-scale projects, integrating cutting-edge technologies and fostering innovation.
“There is no doubt that engineering is the backbone of the Yorkshire and Humber’s economy, driving forward innovation, productivity and global competitiveness. “
From September 2025, we will also be offering a Level 6 General Engineering (Top-up) degree which can be carried out as a stand-alone qualification or as part of a degree-level apprenticeship.
Validated by the University of Hull, the programme addresses all needs of local industries making it the perfect training route for businesses looking to upskill their employees. Learners will also train on industrystandard practical rigs in heat pumps, carbon capture systems, engineering control, fluid properties, Industry 4.0 and more, ensuring they are developing current and sought after skills.
If you are interested in finding out more about these programmes, please contact our Employer Engagement Team on 01924 789762 or at employerengagement@heartofyorkshire.ac.uk
Higher and degreelevel apprenticeships continued to rise in 2023/2024 and we don’t see this trend slowing down anytime soon, with many learners choosing an apprenticeship as their preferred training route.
That is why we’re expanding our higher and degree-level apprenticeship offer to include a brand-new Level 7 Senior Leader apprenticeship from September 2025. This will enable businesses to develop their employees to become senior leaders within their organisations. Working with CMI, apprentices will gain the strategic leadership skills of those responsible for the overall performance and long-term sustainability of their organisations.
Taking it higher with an apprenticeship
What’s more, the apprenticeship is work-based learning meaning the apprentice is in paid employment for the duration of their apprenticeship and can receive on-the- job training and support. We understand that employers want more shorter, modular style training and we will also be offering this as part of the apprenticeship.
Learn more about the apprenticeship, using the QR code:
HTQs are approved by employers…
Our Level 4 Higher Technical Qualification (HTQ) in Construction can be carried out as a higher apprenticeship, providing an option for learners to specialise in four different pathways including architectural technology, construction management, modern methods of construction and quantity surveying.
Harvey Fenton, who is an apprentice at Caddick Construction and is studying the Construction Site Supervisor HTQ at Castleford College, said:
“My employer thought studying a HTQ would be the best option for me after seeing the benefits of the qualification. The subjects that I’m studying at College tie into the work that I’m doing at Caddick Construction, which gives me the context and background of what I’m doing so that I can piece different information together and get a wider view of it all. It’s a good environment for me to be in to progress my career.”
Debbie Watson, Social Value Manager for Yorkshire & North East at Caddick Construction, explained how their business is benefiting from its
apprentices carrying out the HTQ in Construction:
“There’s a massive skills gap in the industry, so we really need students that have got the skills that they gain through the HTQ in Construction. The apprentices are in the workplace four days a week and carry out their learning one day a week at College, so they are getting real hands-on experience.”
Find out more about the HTQ in Construction and the different pathways available, at: www.heartofyorkshire.ac.uk/ higher-education or scan the QR code.
Harvey Fenton Apprentice at Caddick Construction
APPRENTICES MAKE HEADLINES
Apprentice wins local business award
Recognising his hard work and determination, former Hospitality & Catering apprentice at the Heart of Yorkshire Education Group, Mark Curran, was presented with the Apprentice of the Year accolade at the Wakefield Business Awards 2024.
The judges praised Mark for the resilience and determination he showed throughout his studies, which saw him continuously develop and refine his skills as a Level 2 Commis Chef apprentice.
During his Apprenticeship, Mark also won the Group’s Business, Enterprise & Professional Apprentice of the Year award in 2024 – highlighting the commitment and hard work demonstrated to achieving his qualification.
After finishing with a Distinction, Mark is now working full-time as a Pastry Chef at Artisan bakery, Heppni Bakeri in York.
Preparing for net zero
The Group has delivered another successful cohort of its Skills Bootcamp in Carbon Capture and Storage programme, providing a number of apprentices with the higher-technical skills and knowledge to operate the climate saving technology.
This is enabling apprentices and employees from Drax to drive forward innovative CCS technologies of the future, including its groundbreaking Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage (BECCS) project at Drax Power Station.
Apprentice Technician, Centime Breach-Frank, said:
“The Carbon Capture and Storage Skills Bootcamp has opened up new opportunities for me in my career. I’ve gained a deeper understanding of the theory behind carbon capture and storage, and I hope to apply this knowledge in my apprenticeship as Drax advances its BECCS technology.”
Find out more about out the Skills Bootcamp in Carbon Capture and Storage using the QR code:
Industry first qualification achieved by apprentices
Two Electrical Maintenance apprentices from Castleford College have achieved a significant industry qualification as part of their Apprenticeship at the National Coal Mining Museum in Wakefield.
Luke and Stanley are the first apprentices to achieve this qualification in the country, which is provided by the Mineral Products Qualification Council and is designed for those working in underground environments, such as coal mines.
Accelerate your apprenticeship prospects with Skills Bootcamps
To ensure businesses have a highly skilled workforce which can embrace advances in technology and the green revolution, the government has developed Skills Bootcamps for adults, with a focus on those industries where there’s a national shortage of skilled workers.
Skills Bootcamps can lead to accelerated apprenticeships because they are considered prior learning, reducing the time needed to complete an apprenticeship programmesaving your business time and costs.
ADDRESS YOUR BUSINESS NEEDS
WITH A WORK EXPERIENCE STUDENT
Work placement programmes are not only a way to enhance young people’s learning and skillset - employers like yourself also have a lot to gain from offering work placement opportunities.
Work placements are a great way to meet your skills needs and business goals, while enabling you to train and recruit new talent – and potentially your next generation of employees.
We are currently seeking work placements for our Level 3 Bricklaying students to enhance their trowel skills on the construction site. This would include a minimum of three days per-week trowel experience onsite and a minimum 10-week block of work experience.
Skills Bootcamps are delivered part-time and flexibly across the Group’s state-of-the-art Colleges, including Castleford College, Selby College and Wakefield College and span a range of areas, including:
+ Principles of Carbon Capture and Storage
+ Heat Recovery and Transfer
+ Large Goods Vehicle Driver
+ Construction Site Operative
+ Pipelaying and Groundworks
If your business could benefit from skills in these areas and you are interested in finding out further information about the Group’s Skills Bootcamp offer, please contact our Employer Engagement Team on 01924 789416 or at employerengagement@heartofyorkshire.ac.uk
All students:
+ Are a minimum of 18 years old
+ Hold a CSCS card
+ Have completed a minimum of two years full-time study at college and have completed a Level 2 and a Level 3 Diploma in Bricklaying
+ Have practical skills in solid walling, cavity walling and feature brickwork
If you are an employer and are interested in supporting our students gaining valuable work experience, please contact Suzanne Black at sblack@heartofyorkshire.ac.uk for further information.
If you are a CITB registered employer, you may be eligible to claim an Into Work grant for supporting this placement.