WELCOME TO THE SPRING/SUMMER 2023 EDITION OF ACHIEVE

Skills for Life

Every year we publish our spring/summer edition of Achieve in early February to coincide with National Apprenticeship Week, and this year is no different. The 6th - 12th of February 2023 is officially the 16th weeklong celebration of apprenticeships all across the country, and we are delighted to celebrating and sharing our successes again this year. The apprenticeship team have a week full of activity, events and promotional work, all of which culminates in our annual apprenticeship awards! The years nominations are better than ever, and we know we are going to have a great evening.

The official theme this year for National Apprenticeship Week is skills for life, a theme which will resonate with all involved in the apprenticeship sector, whether apprentice, employer or apprenticeship provider. At Apprenticeships at Salford City College, we are seeing our apprentices being more determined than ever before to develop the skills they need to ensure they can excel within their chosen profession or occupation. They are recognising the unique opportunity an apprenticeship affords people, with the chance to study, develop skills and carve out a successful career, all while being paid and incurring no study debts! This is demonstrated superbly by our apprentice Amelia (front cover & pages 8, 9). Amelia chose to undertake a project management apprenticeship, and with great support from her employer: Ideal Point of Sale, and she is not looking back.

Over the last decade we have worked with over a thousand different employers, supporting them with their apprenticeship requirements. We are lucky to work with some of the best employers in the region, all of whom are passionate about developing talent with the skills they need for their business. They know that they need ever developing skills sets within their business and that apprenticeships are a great way of ensuring this.

As a large apprenticeship provider, with over 1750 apprentices on programme in the last academic year, we are determined to play a leading role in supporting the skills agenda across Salford, Greater Manchester and the wider region. By ensuring our provision and services are aligned to the needs of the businesses and sectors we work, we can play a huge role in supporting both apprentices and employers to develop the skills they need for life.

Collaboration with employers right across the SCC Group

A key purpose of intent right across the Salford City College Group is ensuring we provide education for a successful future for all stakeholders. We are delighted that Andrea Marshall, Strategic Organisation Lead at Salford City Council is our guest columnist in this edition. Andrea is passionate about skills development and is a great ambassador for skills and education, not only within Salford City Council, but also within the City as a whole.

Working with employers and other key stakeholders to support our education offer is vital. We are incredibly proud of the partnerships we have with amazing organisations, such as the Marriott Worsley Park Country Club, as featured on page 16/17. The Marriott are passionate about supporting us to develop the best talent for their business, as are many of our other partners.

Thank you

National Apprenticeship Week is rightly about recognising the fantastic work undertaken by apprentices and employers, but we must also shine the spotlight on our brilliant colleagues who work tenaciously to support and develop apprentices. Right across the SCC Group, we have some of the best practitioners in the business. Brilliant at developing talent and creating opportunities for our learners to shine.

Allan Milne Director of Apprenticeships & Employer Engagement

ALLAN MILNE Director of Apprenticeships & Employer Engagement

KAREN KENNY Assistant Director of Apprenticeships