Hartlepool Sixth Form worked in partnership with local employers to provide students with an insight into apprenticeships to celebrate National Apprenticeship Week 2020.
120 students, who are studying A-Levels or vocational courses at Hartlepool Sixth Form, attended an Apprenticeship Information Event last week, which was hosted by the sixth form in partnership with local employers EDF Energy, Caterpillar, Faerch Manufacturing and Joseph James Law.
The event at the sixth form was part of the 13th annual National Apprenticeship Week which took place from 3rd to 9th February 2020. During the event, students spoke to employers, current apprentices and expert staff and careers advisers to find out all about apprenticeships.
18-year-old David Haughey from Owton Manor, who is studying business, history and criminology at Hartlepool Sixth Form said:
“I enjoyed the event. It was really helpful as it showed me that there is more out there than I thought. I discovered that there are apprenticeships for many different roles. I thought that apprenticeships were all about engineering and some business administrative positions, but the event showed me that there are more options than I previously thought.”
An apprenticeship allows you to gain national recognised qualifications, real work experience and earn a wage – all at the same time. It’s a great way of gaining vital experience and job specific skills to help you succeed in your career.
Education Partnership North East, which includes Hartlepool Sixth Form, Sunderland College and Northumberland College, has a dedicated Business Development Team that works with more than 600 employers to offer over 40 apprenticeship programmes in a wide range of sectors across the college group.
Jake Baillie, Business Development Executive for Education Partnership North East, who also supported the event, said:
“It was great to spend the day with students at Hartlepool Sixth Form, to raise awareness of the opportunities available through apprenticeships and to overcome some of the myths surrounding them.
“Having employers attend with their apprentices, gave the students a genuine insight into how apprenticeships can be a real benefit, and how it can lead to their desired career, and qualifications, with the backing of a supportive employer.”
This year’s theme for National Apprenticeship Week was Look Beyond, which celebrated the diversity in apprenticeships. Bringing the whole apprenticeship community together, Apprenticeship Week celebrated the impact of apprenticeships on individuals, employers and the economy.
The Association of Colleges (AoC), which champions the sector at a national level, wants to see funding set aside to promote access to and raise the quality of apprenticeships and improve the diversity of apprentices.
David Hughes, Chief Executive of the AoC, said:
“Apprenticeships are an important way for people to enter the labour market and develop a career.
“The average college trains more than 1,000 apprentices and AoC will continue to work with Government to ensure that the apprenticeship system works as well as it can with, a proper strategy for the levy, so we can deliver the skills that the country needs.”
For more information about Hartlepool Sixth Form; contact 01429 294444 or hsfc@hpoolsfc.ac.uk
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