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-specific qualifications while earning money. Opportunities vary depending on the programme.

The routes are: b Accountancy b Agriculture b Agricultural Mechanics b Care b Business Administration b Childcare & Playwork b Construction b Customer Service b Engineering b Hospitality & Catering b Motor Vehicle b Retail b Team Leading b Vehicle Body Repair b Management.

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

Apprenticeship New Success

The longstanding partnership between Pathways Training and Swansea Bay University Health Board has won a top award at this year’s Apprenticeship Awards Cymru held at the International Convention Centre Wales, Newport.

The annual celebration of outstanding achievement in training and apprenticeships was organised by the Welsh Government and the National Training Federation for Wales (NTfW). Pathways Training and Swansea Bay University Health Board’s Apprenticeship Academy had been shortlisted in the Macro Employer of the Year (5,000 plus) category and beat off strong competition to scoop the award.

Since the creation of the Apprenticeship Academy in late 2016, 193 apprentices have been appointed into the industry, with further successful candidates awaiting pre-employment checks.

The partnership currently has apprentice administrators, health care support workers on the wards and in theatres, and assistants in laboratories and areas such as Learning & Development, Outpatient Booking Offices, Estates and Facilities, and the Therapies Department. The majority are undertaking apprenticeships in business and administration and clinical health care support (such as pathology) but the Academy is looking to broaden the apprenticeship qualifications to pharmacy, hospitality and ICT in the future.

“The success of the Academy is down to the partnership with NPTC Group of Colleges and their associated partners within Skills Academy Wales,” said Ruth Gates, Apprentice Academy Manager.

“Providing apprenticeships through the Academy is a win-win situation for both recruiting and improving the skills of staff. It also supports communities, which gives the Health Board and training provider partnership greater credibility.”

“The Academy is unique across Wales and has been an outstanding success in providing an innovative hub which responds effectively to the identified skills shortages and gaps within the organisation,” said Nicola Thornton-Scott, NPTC Group of Colleges’ Assistant Principal for Skills.

Award Finalist Stevie has Career Stability with an Apprenticeship

Apprentice Stevie Williams has swapped her job in customer services to pursue her dream career teaching engineering.

Stevie, 36, from Goytre, Port Talbot, secured a job as a mechanical engineering technician and instructor at NPTC Group after completing a Performing Engineering Operations Level 2 Mechanical Engineering Foundation Apprenticeship and Vocationally-Related Qualification (VRQ) six months early.

She is now working towards an Apprenticeship and VRQ Level 3 with plans to progress to a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) and Degree Apprenticeship in the future to fulfil her ambition of becoming an engineering lecturer.

Stevie was also shortlisted for the Foundation Apprentice of the Year award at the Apprenticeship Awards Cymru 2021.

The highlight of the work-based learning calendar, the awards showcase businesses and individuals who have excelled on the Welsh Government’s Apprenticeship and Traineeship Programmes and gone the extra mile to achieve success during these unprecedented times.

The awards are jointly organised by the Welsh Government and the National Training Federation for Wales (NTfW). Openreach, the UK’s digital network business and a passionate supporter of apprenticeships, has renewed its headline sponsorship of the awards.

The Apprenticeship Programme in Wales is funded by the Welsh Government with support from the European Social Fund.

Interested?

Stevie is completing her apprenticeships with learning provider Pathways Training.

Lee Hughes, mechanical engineering assessor and advisor, describes her as a “dream apprentice”. He says Stevie’s enthusiasm, dedication and maturity are rubbing off on other apprentices and NPTC Group engineering students.

Lee said: “Stevie has set the benchmark for others to follow and her fellow learners respect her role as an instructor. It is lovely to see her progression and how she deals with all the work.”

Mother of two Stevie said she wants a career that will support her family. In addition to her apprenticeship, she takes every learning opportunity that comes her way to expand her knowledge.

“I have a keen interest in engineering and enjoy being hands-on but have always wanted to go into teaching, so an apprenticeship with NPTC Group of Colleges was perfect for me,” she added.

“I am now in a secure position in a career with amazing prospects, all of which would not have been possible without my apprenticeship and the support of my colleagues. I hope to inspire my students through my own success story.”

Stevie has saved the college more than £2,000 a year by introducing several improvements in the workshop as well as helping with the practical assessments of students during the pandemic.