Wiltshire College & University Centre has reached a major milestone in its quest to enrol 100 apprentices in 100 days.
The college set itself the bold challenge in National Apprenticeship Week last month and has already enrolled its 54th apprentice with almost two months to go.
The college, which works with around 2,000 apprentices across its four campuses in Chippenham, Lackham, Salisbury and Trowbridge and launched the 100 in 100 campaign to help more businesses to discover the benefits of training homegrown staff.
Among the employers to pledge taking on an apprentice is Rich Garland, Account Director, Technical Services (Defence) at facilities management company Mitie, which has 200 staff based at MoD Corsham.
He said he was keen to support the campaign and has enrolled a horticultural apprentice to supplement the grounds team. “I was happy to support the campaign because as a company we really get the value of apprentices,” he said.
“We value the freshness of ideas and freshness of knowledge they bring to the workplace, which is really important.
“When they're going through their learning, they're picking up what the current methodologies are, what the current legislation is and the current ways of working and all that kind of stuff and feeding that back into the workplace, so what you find then is that everybody learns.”
He also has a personal reason for supporting apprenticeships. “I was a mechanical engineering apprentice at the Army Apprentices College and when I was going through that course, there was a particular individual who took the time to metaphorically put their arm around my shoulder and point me in the right direction.
“Ever since then, I've tried to pay it forward, it's just about giving other people the same opportunity I had.” He is already discussing a number of additional apprenticeship opportunities for next year with the college.
The college’s Director of Business Development, Martin Reeves, said he has been delighted by the response to the campaign. “It’s really heartening that employers are seeing the benefits of developing their own workforce in partnership with us.
“Our team of Business Relationship Managers are working really hard at getting out to see employers and explaining how we can help them meet their needs.
“However, we know we can help even more companies, no matter what their size, and we are eager to talk to any employer about how they can shape the talent of tomorrow by giving them the skills that meets their needs and teaching them how they want them to work.”
He said the campaign is highlighting apprenticeship opportunities for people of all ages, not just school leavers.
“There are apprenticeships for anyone of any age in any sector,” he said. “The campaign is helping us identify people already in the workplace who want to learn new skills so they can progress.”
A 100 in 100 page is live on the college’s website with more information for employers and an opportunity to start the apprenticeship pledge process. .
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