BUSINESS QUARTER NORTH EAST: Apprenticeship Special Feature
BETTER BY DEGREE Newcastle College’s degree apprenticeships could give your business the skills you need
ONLY THE BEST FOR UNIPRES Unipres’s own academy is meeting its training needs
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DEVELOP A DEGREE APPRENTICESHIP TO SUIT YOUR BUSINESS NEEDS You’re invited to Newcastle University’s Degree Apprenticeship Event We want to work with local businesses to create apprenticeships that are relevant to you. Discover: how our apprenticeships work and how they can benefit your organisation types of apprenticeship training we can provide our Degree Apprenticeship in Power Engineering, starting in September 2018
Join us on Wednesday 2 May, 2pm – 5.30pm Herschel Building, Newcastle University NE1 7RU Register at go.ncl.ac.uk/apprenticeships Find out more | business@ncl.ac.uk | 0191 208 2222 www.ncl.ac.uk/business/recruitment/degree-apprenticeships
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WELCOME APPRENTICESHIPS
CONTENTS 04. A QUESTION OF DEGREE Degree appreniceships are changing the skills landscape 06. MBA DEGREE APPRENTICESHIP Funding is available for valuable courses at Teesside University Business School 10. WHERE ONLY THE BEST IS GOOD ENOUGH Unipres’s own training academy provides the best facilities for the best apprentices 14. NEW THINKING Northumbria University apprenticeship programme mets current and future demands
AN ageing workforce combined with the uncertainty surrounding Brexit has left a lot of businesses in the dark when it comes to thinking of new ways to plug the skills gap. But could the answer to our problems have been sitting right in front of us all along? In this BQ special report, we shine the spotlight on apprenticeships and look at the important role they play in succession planning for businesses. Traditionally, the North East has been a real hotbed for apprenticeships. Many of the region’s top business leaders have themselves worked their way up from shop floor to the top, just like Unipres’s John Cruddace, who charts his career from apprentice to director and explains why the company has launched its own training academy to help nurture the next generation of talent. It’s not just the manufacturing industries that have a heavy focus on apprenticeships either. We hear from Tracy McNicholas, director of the newly-formed Tees Valley Cyber College, who explains how it’s helping train young people in cyber security in order to ensure the region’s businesses remain as profitable and productive as possible as we head into post-Brexit Britain. And if you think apprentices are just for young people, think again. Marc McPake, director of business partnerships at Newcastle College, gives us an insight into degree apprenticeships and tells us how the college is working hand in hand with the region’s businesses to not only train new recruits but also to upskill staff in management positions through its newly launched chartered management degree apprenticeship. By taking the amazing work of our educational institutions and marrying it with industry needs, we’re sure that together we can help plug the skills gap and continue to move forward as a region. The North East has always been an area that has been proud of its skilled workforce and as we move forward into the great unknown, collaboration and partnerships will be vital to stimulating economic growth. Bryce Wilcock, editor
Business Quarter is part of BE Group, the UK’s market leading business improvement specialists. www.be-group.co.uk
BQ, Spectrum 6, Spectrum Business Park, Seaham, SR7 7TT. www.bqlive.co.uk. As a dedicated supporter of entrepreneurship, BQ is making a real and tangible contribution to local, regional and national economic growth across the UK. We are unique in what we aim to achieve as a media brand, a brand that has established a loyal audience of high growth SMEs and leading business influencers. They wholeheartedly believe in BQ’s focus on people – those individuals that are challenging the traditional ways of doing things. They are our entrepreneurs. BQ reaches entrepreneurs and senior business executives across Scotland, the North East and Cumbria, the North West, Yorkshire, the Midlands, Wales, London and the South, in-print, online and through branded events. All contents copyright © 2018 BQ. All rights reserved. While every effort is made to ensure accuracy, no responsibility can be accepted for inaccuracies, howsoever caused. No liability can be accepted for illustrations, photographs, artwork or advertising materials while in transmission or with the publisher or their agents. All content in this BQ should be regarded as advertorial. All information is correct at time of going to print, March 2018.
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BETTER BY DEGREE Degree apprenticeships are changing the way businesses view apprentices, as Bryce Wilcock finds out from chatting to Marc McPake of Newcastle College.
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pprenticeships have long been seen by many as a simple way of introducing the next generation of staff into a business. However, apprenticeships, like the business world around us, are changing at a rapid pace. Whilst apprentices remain a vital way for businesses to recruit the next generation of staff, the introduction of degree apprenticeships are changing the way we go about recruiting and upskilling staff at all levels. Combining a paid job with training towards a qualification is the best way to meet the needs of both employers and employees and businesses are starting to wake up to the idea that this method of learning isn’t just for fresh-faced school leavers. “People perceive apprentices as 16 year olds who have just left school, but if you look at an apprentice as someone who is
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learning new skills whilst working at your company, it opens up your mind to a whole new way of looking at apprenticeships,” said Marc McPake, director of business partnerships at Newcastle College. The ever-growing skills gap and the changing economic landscape mean that now, more than ever before, education providers must remain in constant dialogue with employers to keep ahead of developments and ensure the link between education and industry remains a strong one. Newcastle College is a perfect example of this in practice. One of the college’s key areas of focus is on its degree apprenticeship programmes and it is working hand-in-hand with industry to ensure organisations are aware of the business and the personal benefits. However, with recent changes in apprenticeship reforms, such as the
introduction of the apprenticeship levy, the college has had to work closer than ever with industry to dispel the myths and misconceptions that still exist around this training route. McPake adds: “Gone are the days when apprenticeships were just suited for young people. Now employers can embed these programmes into their training strategies to not only recruit new members of their team but to also upskill even the most experienced leaders. “A great example of this is the introduction of our new chartered manager degree apprenticeship, which can be applied to businesses from any sector. This gives people chartered manager status through the Chartered Manager Institute (CMI). When you look at the challenges that small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and large employers face, they all have challenges at varying different levels.
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“For many companies, people in management levels have progressed from the shop floor and that’s fine, they’ve earned that position on merit and competence, but it doesn’t necessarily make them a manager. “The need for on the job management training is hugely significant. Whilst you need people with knowledge and experience of a business in management positions, you also need to ensure they’ve been given the correct management and leadership training. “Our chartered management degree apprenticeship gives them all of that. When businesses begin to think about managers as potential apprentices, it removes the barriers that exist in terms of putting someone through a management apprenticeship. “People would never usually think of a manager as an apprentice. For us, it’s all about changing the apprenticeship culture and bringing businesses to realise the potential benefits. A lot of businesses can’t see the opportunities directly in front of them, but we want to change that.” As well as the chartered management degree apprenticeship, the college also has a whole range of topics to study, from leadership and project management all of the way through to industry specific degrees. A great example of this is the work the college has undertaken with Accenture. The leading technology company has invested heavily in their apprenticeship programme over the years, using Newcastle College’s tech industry gold standard higher level apprenticeship to recruit and upskill employees. However, it’s not just the larger corporates that are benefiting from the programmes, as McPake explains: “Degree apprenticeships are open to anyone. We can build courses for major corporates or we can give companies access to courses which have people from multiple organisations studying in the same classroom. “We have a fantastic relationship with Accenture. We’ve been doing higher level apprenticeships with them for a number of years now and that’s growing significantly to include degree apprenticeships. They’ve seen the impact it has had on their business and they’re continuing to invest in them on a number of levels. They’re a stand out example of how degree apprenticeships can
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benefit businesses. “But, for small businesses in particular, they are extremely beneficial. When you have people studying on degree apprenticeship programmes together, you have a number of very intelligent people in one room who are collaboratively working. Not only are they studying but they’re discussing best practice from their individual sectors, it’s a very rich experience.” One of the key challenges facing the college however, isn’t persuading small businesses that they too can benefit, but is educating businesses of all sizes about what degree apprenticeships are and how they can benefit. “I think a lot of businesses think it’s too good to be true and that’s not me trying to exaggerate just how good they are,” McPake says. “Businesses look and think, ‘surely, they can’t do all that?!’ “We’re changing this perception however
through constant communication with the businesses we work with and promoting the fact that an apprenticeship is a strategic investment which can be applied at any level. “As a solutions provider, we work directly with employers to match their strategic objectives with the training they require to meet them, it’s not a one size fits all approach. “Anyone can be an apprentice – it’s just a matter of finding the right apprenticeship to meet your company’s needs.” n
If you’re interested in finding out how degree apprenticeships could benefit your business, contact Newcastle College on 0191 200 4757 or email apprenticeships@ncl-coll.ac.uk
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Profile
Access funding to develop your workforce with the MBA degree apprenticeship from Teesside University Business School Develop specialist expertise and high level skills to ensure your business is at the forefront in your markets – locally, nationally and internationally.
Find out more about the funding opportunities available to all businesses for the MBA Degree Apprenticeship: T: 01642 342312 E: mba@tees.ac.uk tees.ac.uk/businessschool
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There is an ever-increasing demand for business leaders with the requisite skills, understanding and acumen to tackle the difficult demands facing organisations of all sizes. During 2018, Teesside University Business School will be at the forefront of efforts to build skills and knowledge in our region. MBA degree apprenticeship The MBA degree apprenticeship is one of Teesside University Business School’s flagship programmes. It is aimed at leaders with experience in management and the workplace who appreciate that, to lead teams and stay ahead in our turbulent fast-paced global economy, they need new tools and skills. The programme provides a fantastic platform for aspirational senior managers to challenge themselves and drive innovative entrepreneurial leadership thinking and practice back into their respective organisations at a strategic level. Craig Peterson, co-founder and chief operating officer at Growth Capital Ventures and graduate of the Teesside University Business School MBA programm, says: ‘The MBA at Teesside University has been transformational for me. As a business owner, I wanted to learn new skills to embed an entrepreneurial culture throughout our business to encourage innovation and growth. The syllabus was well suited to leaders of ambitious growth-focused businesses. I’ve developed new skills that have been instrumental in driving our business forward including launching new products
and entering new markets. Studying with fellow business leaders was fantastic. The opportunity to meet some brilliant people and share ideas, experience and valuable business knowledge added to the overall experience”. The MBA programme has been designed to be flexible in relation to its delivery, to cater for a diverse range of learners, from a variety of professional backgrounds, and places a large emphasis on the application of knowledge in the organisational setting. Students develop their personal, professional, critical thinking and reflective skills to prepare them to manage, lead and transform organisations – and make a positive difference to society more generally. Study is structured around up to eight days per year of face-to-face group learning, as part of the two-year part-time programme. Experiential learning takes place through facilitated workshops and action learning sets; with further study supported by a shared knowledge platform that facilitates a blended learning approach to fit with busy work and life schedules. Apprenticeship funding Apprenticeship levy-paying employers (those with pay bills over £3m) pay for apprenticeship training from their online levy accounts via the government’s apprenticeship service. They will also receive a 10% government top-up to their online accounts. Non-levy payers pay only 10% of the cost of apprenticeship training, with the remaining 90% being paid by the government. n
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Tees
Challenge your thinking, transform your organisation
Take advantage of excellent funding opportunities to study the Teesside University MBA Is your organisation’s payroll in excess of £3m?
Yes
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Non Levy payer
>
> 100% from employer levy funds, or 10% from employer and 90% from government if insufficient levy funds available.
Want to know more about the funding opportunities available to all businesses for this programme, Teesside University can help.
>
> Levy payer
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10% from employer and 90% from government.
T: 01642342312 E: mba@tees.ac.uk W: tees.ac.uk/businessschool @TeessideUniTUBS Teesside University Business School
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LEARNING TO COMBAT CYBERCRIME A new college dedicated to cyber security has opened its doors at Durham Tees Valley Airport to help businesses deal with the ever-increasing threat of cyber-attacks, as BQ’s Bryce Wilcock finds out.
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usinesses across the UK are being targeted by cyber criminals every day and the scale and size of the threat is continuing to grow. In fact, newly-released statistics by the UK Government found nearly half of all UK businesses have suffered a cyber breach or attack in the past 12 months. The Cyber Security Breaches Survey 2017 also shows that businesses holding electronic personal data on customers were much more likely to suffer cyber breaches than those that do not: 51% compared to 37%. These ever-increasing threats have made cyber security one of the world’s fastest growing industries and businesses of all shapes and sizes are now looking at how they can protect themselves from online criminals. Capitalising on this demand for cyber security expertise is the new state of the art Tees Valley Cyber College, which recently opened its doors at Durham Tees Valley Airport offering training, apprenticeships and business support in cyber security.
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The college is the brainchild of Andrew Bowen, chief executive of Bowen Consulting. The company already provides support to a number of training and apprenticeship centres across the North of England in niche sectors encompassing IT infrastructure, digital marketing and data analysis and this new investment by Bowen Consulting marks another milestone for the region. Bowen says: “Many businesses within the region are unsure about how exactly they should tackle certain threats and are further concerned that their business and its systems and suppliers may be vulnerable to attacks. “The Cyber College is here to benefit both small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and large companies within digital education, cyber security and ultimately provide real time and tangible methods of protecting businesses, especially considering the imminent new general data protection regulations (GDPR).” As it is a relatively new sector, there is a huge lack of cyber security talent in the
region and forward-thinking businesses have been quick to snap up the best talent. The draw of London and tech hubs in Manchester and Leeds have also lured many away from the area. However, with the uncertainty of Brexit and with digital transformation now being a matter of do or die, the only sensible solution is to turn to home grown talent. This is where the new cyber college is hoping to make a difference, with its unique cyber security apprenticeships and training programmes. College director Tracy McNicholas explains: “The college is not being set up just to benefit companies within the digital technology sector; practically every business within our region has
“Our ultimate goal is to be the UK’s leading cyber college and be seen as the Bletchley Park of the North”
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“New apprentices have been brought up in the digital age and as such see cyber security as an extension of their digital world”
some element of digital infrastructure, whether that is processing orders, holding customer and supplier data or their machinery may be controlled electronically. “We feel that every business needs to embrace the potential short falls in skills within their business and address them as soon as possible. With the new evolution of the apprenticeship standards from level 2 up to degree level, at no cost to the individual, we feel that, as an alternative to taking the degree route, apprentices will play a pivotal role by gaining the correct skills and experience to help grow our region’s businesses. “New apprentices have been brought up in the digital age and as such see cyber
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security as an extension of their digital world and can see how it fits into every business no matter how big or small.” Bowen adds: “For many businesses, they don’t know where to start with ensuring their company is safe and future proof. The cyber college is set up to discuss their potential needs, offer practical steps and set out easy to manage business plans to assist in protecting the business. “Additionally, when it comes to business insurance against potential cyber threats, a question frequently asked is, ‘does your company meet its obligations, not only to itself, but also to its customers and its supply chain?’” This year’s intake will see the creation of more than 100 apprentice positions
comprising a level three foundation year in IT infrastructure and cyber essentials, moving onto a level four cyber security intrusion analyst. McNicholas concludes: “Our ultimate goal is to be the UK’s leading cyber college and be seen as the Bletchley Park of the North. Our plans are to continue supporting SMEs and large regional and national businesses. “We are focused on an offering to support public services including the police, NHS and local authorities. Plans are also in place to set up regional cyber colleges across the UK. In addition to our flagship college at Tees Valley Airport, we will soon be opening cyber colleges in Manchester and London. n
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A PRESSING
MATTER
Car parts manufacturer Unipres is tackling the challenge of an ageing workforce head on with the launch of its own training academy, as Bryce Wilcock reports.
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year on from the opening of the Unipres Training Academy in Washington, the company couldn’t be happier with how the centre has progressed. Working hand-in-hand with schools and colleges across the region, Unipres has helped train over 100 apprentices since opening the doors to the academy and is already seeing a return from its investment. Housed within Washington Business Centre, the academy boasts its own simulated production line and gives budding apprentices and new recruits a feel for life on the line before they even step foot inside the factory. “The academy is the culmination of a vision combined with a great deal of hard work and investment,” plant director John Cruddace says. “We have the best apprentices here, so it’s only fitting that they have the best facility possible in order to learn the ropes. “All of the machines and equipment we have at the Unipres Training Academy are exactly the same as we use in the main plant, so the transition from training to the working environment is as smooth as possible.” The decision to launch the training academy was born from the need for Unipres to increase both the number, and
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the quality of apprentices and staff it was able to attract and retain. Since launching 30 years ago, Unipres, like many other manufacturing businesses, has been built around its apprentices. In fact, Cruddace and managing director Gary Graham started out as apprentices before joining the company some 28 years ago and both have worked their way up from the shop floor to the top. However, whilst this has led to the company building a highly skilled and loyal workforce, it has also brought with it a series of challenges. One of which, a key motivator in the establishing of the academy, was the prospect that the company would be set to lose many long serving, experienced staff through retirement. Many of the company’s staff members, like Cruddace and Graham, have been with the company for decades and are now looking to retire, resulting in a looming brain drain. Cruddace says: “Up until recently, we have always promoted from within. All of our management team, myself included, have worked our way up. I started as a die technician 28 years ago and worked my way up to become a director. Most of our management staff share similar stories. “It works. However, when we started
succession planning in 2014, we noticed there were holes and we didn’t have the people coming through who could fill them. With this in mind, we went out and recruited a number of supervisors and senior supervisors for the first time. “But now, thanks to the academy, there is a structure in place to create the next generation of team leaders and supervisors from within. It’s going to be a long process, but it’ll be worth it.” Maureen Askew, senior controller at the Unipres Training Academy, echoed Cruddace’s views. She adds: “As a company, we’ve employed almost 300 apprentices since 1989, and apprenticeship positions continue to grow throughout the business with many other departments such as human resources, finance, quality and procurement now also investing in apprenticeship positions. “The industry continues to face a skills shortage and it is essential that businesses, like ourselves, continue to invest in training for new employees and the existing workforce. We have invested over £500,000 in the training academy with industry specialist equipment to not only train our apprentices to the best possible standard but also to enhance the skills of our staff.” Helping ensure the company is able
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“We have the best apprentices here, so it’s only fitting that they have the best facility possible in order to learn the ropes.”
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“ to provide the best possible training is Hartlepool College. Askew, who is also a member of the North East Apprentice Ambassador Network, played a key role in establishing the academy and decided to go to tender in order to find the right training provider for this year’s cohort of apprentices. She adds: “Our recruitment process for our current first-year apprentices commenced in January as normal, but the introduction of levy and our new engineering technician apprenticeship, made us approach selecting our training provider differently and we decided to go to tender. “This was a major step change for us but a very interesting process which highlighted Hartlepool College as the strongest provider. They offered an outstanding delivery model and value for money.” The apprenticeship levy, which came into force in April last year, meant that companies with a pay as you earn (PAYE) bill of £3m or more must pay a levy of 0.5%. “Calculating our levy contribution was challenging to ensure we used the funds
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effectively,” Askew adds, “but we feel we have done this successfully and working with providers like Hartlepool College allows us to invest in apprenticeship positions in other areas of the business.” As well as being able to train up to 100 apprentices a year, the academy also helps Unipres carry on its proud tradition of upskilling existing staff members and promoting from within. From basic training to level three qualifications, Unipres hopes to give staff of all levels the opportunity to progress their careers through the academy and gain qualifications which could help accelerate their careers, something Cruddace and Askew believe is key to creating a strong workforce. Cruddace adds: “With Maureen and the academy, we’re now branching it out to everybody. Everyone within the organisation will be given the chance to progress. “Whether they take that opportunity or not will be up to them, we won’t force them to go down this route, but the opportunity will be there for them. You could come in
“Everyone within the organisation will be given the chance to progress.” as a temporary worker, win a permanent contract and go on to become managing director, that’s the vision.” Since its launch, the academy has already helped recruit and train over 100 apprentices and upskill dozens of staff members through its innovative training programmes and it doesn’t stop there. Unipres has already had to expand the academy, taking up an extra floor at the business centre, and Cruddace and Askew believe the company has already seen a return on its investment. “In one year, we’re reaping the benefits,” Cruddace says. “It has been a tough year, a year when we’ve had to develop both internally and externally. But those partnerships are now strong and in 12 months’ time, who knows how much further it will go. “We’ve taken on an extra unit for our warehousing and material handling training and have extended our office space there with the aim of opening a mini ICT suite. It used to be a case of Unipres looking for the right people, now the right people are looking for Unipres.” n
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Profile
Degree apprenticeship: New knowledge. New skills. New thinking. Sue Graham, business development manager at Northumbria University, explains how it’s apprenticeship programme provides your employees with new skills, new knowledge, and new thinking to take on tomorrow’s challenges.
Sue Graham degree.apprenticeships@northumbria.ac.uk 0191 227 3188
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Higher and degree apprenticeships are a key strand in the Government’s skills strategy and are open to newly recruited and existing staff from organisations of all sizes. They combine university study and workplace learning to enable employees to gain new knowledge, new skills, and new thinking whilst completing an undergraduate or master’s degree. In the current climate, organisations need to be sure that they are developing their people in line with current and future demands. The specific needs of your business or organisation can be met with teaching based on real workplace activities and live projects to complement day-to-day operations. At Northumbria University, our higher and degree apprenticeships are more than a learning programme; they are a partnership. We work with you to create courses that meet the demands of your organisation. We will provide your employees with the skills and knowledge required so they can take on tomorrow’s challenges. Kevin Corredin, who is currently doing a chartered manager degree apprenticeship at Vertu Motors, explains: “Being involved in the running and management of a dealership is an amazing task to do as I get to discover all of the work that goes behind it. I see this not
only as an opportunity to be a manager but also to make a positive change in the motor industry in the UK.” Northumbria University started to run apprenticeship programmes in 2015 and it is going from strength to strength. We have many partnerships in place with public and private organisations including Durham County Council, HM Revenue & Customs, NHS Business Services Authority, North Tyneside Council, Northumberland County Council, Turner and Townsend, Vertu Motors and many smaller companies and organisations. Since 2015, we have developed our apprenticeship offer and following the success of our current three apprenticeship programmes, in chartered surveying, chartered manager and digital and technology solutions we are building on this further for 2018-19. Subject to approval, for the next academic year we are aiming to run nine programmes at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels. Subjects include: professional accounting; architect; chartered surveying; chartered manager; senior leader master’s degree; senior compliance risk specialist; solicitor and teacher. Our apprenticeships build upon the foundation of employees’ existing abilities and experience leaving your employees empowered through increased skills, knowledge, self-awareness and a greater sense of value and purpose within your organisation. Kirste Worland, ICT service delivery manager for NHS Business Services Authority explains “Working in partnership with Northumbria University has enabled us to help shape and influence how our apprentices learn and develop; pushing the boundaries in developing a flexible and innovative approach to apprenticeships. “Organisationally, the creativity, ideas, questions, and thinking has stimulated both apprentices and existing staff over the past four months and this synergy has generated some great ideas as well as productive working relationships, and I look forward to seeing this coming into fruition. “This is a long-term commitment from both the organisation and the apprentice, and the support I have observed from all quarters has been exceptional and I look forward to building on this over the coming months.” n For more information on how your business could benefit from degree apprenticeships and our 2018/19 programmes visit www. northumbria.ac.uk/degreeapprenticeships
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The North East's Startup Business Competition The Challenge celebrates it's 10th anniversary this year and we invite you to join Sage, Entrepreneurs' Forum, Brewin Dolphin, BQ, GetFilm, 49Digital and 3 award winning regional entrepreneurs to be a part of this exciting year ahead. Enter If We Can You Can to accelerate your business with the support of our partners. Support the challenge activities leading up to November's grand final! Gain skills, expand your network, attract customers, find opportunities, get publicity and lots more. Get in touch with Owen today to find out more about how to be involved as an entrant, partner, or supporter.
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Owen Thoms Events Assistant 07715547148 info@ifwecanyoucan.co.uk www.ifwecanyoucan.co.uk @IWCYC
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Navigate your apprenticeship opportunity As one of the UK’s largest and fastest growing awarding organisations, we’re at the cutting edge when it comes to apprenticeships. From end-point assessment solutions to advice and expertise, we can support you in navigating your apprenticeship journey. NCFE is an approved end-point assessment organisation currently on the register for the following subject areas: • Customer Service • Leadership and Management • Hospitality • Professional Services • Retail. We also offer end-point assessment in Health and Social Care under our CACHE brand, the UK’s leading sector specialist in care and education.
Contact our dedicated Apprenticeship Services team to find out more. Visit: www.ncfe.org.uk/epa Email: epa@ncfe.org.uk Call: 0191 240 8950 @NCFE | @CACHEORG
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