Event Highlights Apprenticeship Opportunities
Employing apprentices is crucial for businesses to remain competitive and ensure their long term success, according to business leaders who met in Derby on Monday to mark the launch of National Apprenticeship Week 2010.
Representatives from more than 40 local businesses attended Derby College’s National Apprenticeship Week launch at The Roundhouse on Monday to discuss the benefits of taking on apprentices.
The event was opened by Derby South MP Margaret Beckett who said: “Having gone down the apprenticeship route myself many years ago, I have greatly benefited from combining invaluable work experience with the nurturing support that you gain from attending college part time.”
Speakers then included John Forkin from Marketing Derby, Neil Fowkes, Learning and Development Manager, Rolls-Royce Plc; Richard Holdsworth, Organisational Development Manager, Molson Coors; Ken Stepney, Human Resources Manager, People Development at JCB and Mandie Stravino, Group Commercial Director, Derby College.
Mandie Stravino explained: “National Apprenticeship Week gives us an important focus on the need for investing in the workforce of the future.
“Our work with businesses to train their apprentices is at the heart of our mission for Derby College – to support the recovery the local, regional and national economies, support individual prosperity and thus promote community cohesion.
“A national survey of employers revealed that 77% of businesses said that employing apprentices made them more competitive and 88% said that such schemes led to a more productive and motivated workforce.
“In the current economic circumstances, it is more important than ever to ensure that employees have the skills they need to help deliver success. Training of existing staff and investing in the future workforce will help them through the current storm whilst also readying them for when the economy improves.
Neil Fowkes, who is in charge of the training for Rolls-Royce’s 650 apprentices nationwide, explained: “We are extremely proud of our apprenticeship scheme in partnership with Derby College which brings massive benefits to the organisation and helps us stay ahead of our competitors.
“More than 30% of our senior management came through the apprenticeship route and we have 98% retention within the scheme.”
And Ken Stepney added: “Apprenticeships are a win win situation – both for the company and for the young people we employ. The future of the business is largely dependent on the quality of the young people that we need to take us forward and secure our long term future.”
John Forkin concluded: “Derby is the UK’s leading export city and has the highest number of high technology jobs with 11.5% of the workforce in such employment compared to the UK average of 3%.
“Apprentices therefore continue to benefit from Derby’s strong industrial base and will play an important role in the future prosperity of the city.”