Mayor calls for more focus on apprenticeships during National Apprenticeship week

Marvin Rees, Mayor of Bristol, is highlighting the growing amount of apprenticeship opportunities in the city as part of National Apprenticeship Week.

There will be jobs fairs and information events around apprenticeships every day this week to celebrate this national event.

Learning City partner organisations from across the city are working together to raise awareness of the varied apprenticeship programmes that are on offer which can take people from entry to post graduate level with great employers in the city.

Marvin Rees, Mayor of Bristol said:

“Apprenticeships are a great way of starting a new career and can be an important first step for many people in preparing for their future. They offer real opportunities which can change people’s lives. With lots of options out there in all kinds of job sectors there really can be something for everyone within our city.

“Through our Bristol WORKS programme, we are helping people get meaningful experiences of work by bringing together large employers in the city with our education sector. We have recently been named as one of the cities taking forward new diversity hubs to help people from disadvantaged or BAME background an opportunity to access new career paths through apprenticeships. Through this work we hope that we will be able to make a real difference to people’s opportunities in life and start to address some of the deep seated inequalities we know are present in the city.

“Throughout this week are jobs fairs focused specifically at apprenticeships. If you are interested in finding out more about how you can sign up and apply I’d encourage you to come down and see what’s on offer.”

An apprenticeship offers hands-on experience, a salary and the opportunity to train while you work.

At the end of it an apprenticeship offers official certification of skills, equivalent to a qualification ranging from level 2 (GCSE equivalent) up to degree level which can be vital in improving your career path.

There are currently over 90 apprentices working for Bristol City Council which offers opportunities to join a range of different departments through an apprenticeship. These include Accounting, Highways Engineering, Plastering, Painting & Decorating, Plumbing, Gas Engineering, Higher Civil Engineering, Coach Core, Carpentry & Joinery and Early Years & Child Care.

City of Bristol College will be getting involved with the week by holding a jobs and apprenticeship fair on Thursday (8 March) at the South Bristol Skills Academy, Hengrove to raise awareness of what opportunities are available in the city.

Lee Probert, Principal and Chief Executive of City of Bristol College said:

“Apprenticeships are an excellent way to earn and learn. More and more employers are turning to apprenticeships as their primary source of training. They’re for people of any age, any background and with opportunities to acquire skills at graduate and post graduate levels, they’re suitable for all levels within the workplace. Apprenticeships are also for all types of job with routes across professional and vocational trade subjects.

“We’re really excited to be working with Karin Smyth, MP for South Bristol, this week at our joint apprenticeships and jobs fair.”

The college has a page on their website which is dedicated to advertising apprenticeship opportunities. For more information head to: www.cityofbristol.ac.uk/courses/apprenticeships/

Cllr Anna Keen, Cabinet Member for Education and Skills said:

“As a major employer in the city to make sure that people are aware of these opportunities and are working with Learning City partners across the city to make sure people can access them. An apprenticeship can be just the leg up people need to get on the first rung of the career path they want. The council offers many opportunities for people internally and our On Site team are specially set up to help people successfully apply for apprenticeships with other employers. To find out more I encourage you to head to their website.”

Information on all the jobs fairs happening throughout the week are available on the National Apprenticeship Week website.

Find out more about the benefits of apprenticeships on the government’s website: www.getingofar.gov.uk