National Apprenticeship Week is next week and the Cirencester College Apprenticeship Team will be celebrating the positive impact that apprenticeships have had on local businesses, individuals and the local economy at an Apprenticeship Information Evening.

The Apprenticeship team currently delivers apprenticeships in eight key business sectors across three different levels. Providing benefits for both employers when recruiting apprentices in to their business and to apprentices who have both choice and progression opportunities with the College.

As well as offering apprenticeships in Accountancy, Business & Administration, Customer Service, Creative & Digital Media, IT Application Specialist, Marketing, Supervision and Management, the College has also started to deliver the new Apprenticeship Standards in Financial Services Administration.

Apprenticeship Manager at Cirencester College Sarah Helbrow said: “Apprenticeships can give companies the opportunity to grow their skills base, which in turn can lead to growth in the business. We pride ourselves in developing genuine partnerships with local employers who have a shared vision about the value and purpose of apprenticeship training. Equally, Apprenticeships provide a fantastic opportunity for young people to start a career and develop workplace skills and knowledge.”

Sue Seymour from local company Cirencester Friendly Society, who have a Financial Services apprentice Esther Hutton said: “From our point of view having an apprentice has been a very positive experience for Cirencester Friendly. Esther has worked extremely hard, increasing her technical knowledge through passing an insurance qualification. The process also encouraged Esther to grow within her role, using skills and natural traits, which were there but not fully honed. She created and designed a process for a ‘recognition card’, which is now sent to staff who have performed exceptionally. I would be delighted for anyone else within my team to embark upon the apprenticeship programme and would recommend it to other employers.”

Sarah added: “For us, this really does confirm the value of apprenticeships to both the employer and the apprentice. Over 90% of our completing apprentices last year remained with the same employer after they completed their apprenticeship.”

l If you would like to find out more and attend the College’s Information Evening at the College on Thursday, March 8, between 5-8pm then please register your interest on the Cirencester College website cirencester.ac.uk.

There will be a presentation at 5.30pm or 6.30pm and the opportunity to speak to one of the team afterwards. There is no better time to take up and apprenticeship or to employ an apprentice.