Apprenticeships

IT PAYS TO LEARN

If studying full-time is not for you, then work-based learning could be exactly what you are looking for. There are programmes to suit everyone! Work-based learning gives you the chance to gain experience in a real job, plus job-specifi c qualifi cations while earning money. Opportunities vary depending on the programme.

The routes are: b Accountancy b Agricultural Mechanics b Business Administration b Construction b Engineering b Motor Vehicle b Team Leading b Management.

b b b b b b b Agriculture Care Childcare & Playwork Customer Service Hospitality & Catering Retail Vehicle Body Repair

Traineeships A traineeship is a training programme for 16 to 18 year-olds which focuses on giving you: b Employability skills b The opportunity to sample different job roles b Access to high quality work experience.

What are the benefits of a traineeship engagement? b Weekly training allowance b Subsidised travel b Build vital experience with local and national employers b Opportunity to improve English and Maths skills b Build confidence b Improve your long-term prospects and earning potential.

At the end of the traineeship you can: b Advance onto a Level 1 traineeship or apprenticeship b Advance to an academic course b Carry out voluntary work b Pursue an alternative career choice.

Why become an apprentice?

b b

b b Earn while you learn - be paid a salary Gain skills, knowledge, experience and face new challenges Gain a nationally recognised qualification Excellent progression opportunities.

What types of apprenticeships are there? b There are three types of apprenticeships you can apply for depending on current skills and qualifications: b Foundation apprenticeship - Level 2 b Apprenticeship - Level 3 b Higher apprenticeship - Level 4+.

Apprenticeships You will be on placement with an employer and possibly attend College for one day a week. You will be assessed in the workplace and helped to gather evidence for your portfolio.

An apprenticeship is a work-based learning programme where you can earn a wage while you learn. If you live in Wales and are over 16 and not in full-time education, you can apply for an apprenticeship.

Degree Apprenticeships NPTC Group of Colleges and Wrexham Glyndŵr University (WGU) have recently been awarded funding under the new Degree Apprenticeship Pilot Programme for Wales. Reflecting the skills needs of Wales, universities and other degree awarding institutions were asked to design a new suite of digital programmes to enable Welsh organisations to upskill their existing employees or recruit new talent in areas such as software engineering, cyber security and data science for the new digital degree apprenticeships framework.

Interested? Please contact the team at: Newtown College: 01686 614253 or e-mail: pathwaystraining@nptcgroup.ac.uk

New Apprenticeship Academy to Shape the Future of Healthcare in Powys

Powys Teaching Health Board (PTHB) and NPTC Group of Colleges gave a warm welcome to the first Healthcare Support Worker apprentices as they start on their new careers within the NHS.

They are part of a group of young workers who have just joined the Health Board during its initial successful wave of apprentice recruitment.

The aim of the health board’s apprenticeship academy, in partnership with the Colleges’ Work-Based Learning team Pathways Training, is to recruit staff and provide them with the skills, knowledge and experience for the start of their journey to become a nurse.

The two apprentices are working onwards across Brecon Hospital while studying for a nationally recognised level 2 qualification in Clinical Healthcare through the Health Care Support Worker apprenticeship programme.

Apprentices, Kristy Abbott & Shannon Brewer said: “We have just completed an intensive two-week induction programme and learned so many new skills which we can now put into practice during our first week on the wards. We are so pleased to have been given this opportunity and would recommend anyone interested in working in health to follow this route.”

Katelyn Falvey, Head of Clinical Education for PTHB, says: “I am so excited about the development of Health Care Support Worker apprenticeships in the Health Board. We are able to offer the people of Powys career opportunities that can take them on a career development journey from apprentice right through to registered nurse. We are committed to the development of our staff and this is the first step on the career ladder to ‘Growing our own’ in Powys.”

The new apprenticeships will help make the most of a supported workforce and can improve patient care by demonstrating a commitment to a career path; provide opportunities and recognition for all staff (clinical and nonclinical), including the development of transferable skills, resulting in increased flexibility of the workforce. A series of successful roadshows were held across all PTHB hospitals last October, introducing existing staff to a number of accredited work-based learning programmes. Staff are able to take advantage of accessing a range of learning opportunities across a number of sectors.

One staff member studying for a Business Administration qualification said: “I have been an employee for the Health Board for 12 years and they have supported me with my career development. I am thoroughly enjoying undertaking the Level 3 Business Admin course via NPTC. The assessor has been helpful and encouraging and allows me to work at a pace that is suitable for me. The course now uses a portal where all units are contained and allows you to submit work, this makes the training more accessible at times which are more convenient for me.”

Alec Thomas, Pathways Training Manager, added: “As a forward-thinking College, we understand the need to recruit apprentices and upskill existing staff with the skills and attitude to progress in their chosen careers which directly aligns with a lot of businesses, especially Powys Teaching Health Board's need to create a long-term skilled workforce.”

Anne-Marie Mason, PTHB Apprenticeship Lead, added: “We are working with a number of departments across the Health Board, local schools and colleges to promote the available opportunities and will work closely with the College's 'Pathways Training Team' to develop appropriate qualification frameworks to recruit apprentices as well as offering existing staff opportunities to develop their skills.”